August 2023
Lewis
Hughes
,
RN, BSN
Critical Care
Kootenai Health
Coeur d' Alene
,
ID
United States
Lewis is an exceptional nurse, and it is with great honor that he receives this DAISY Award. There has never been just one instance where he stood out for excellent care, as he makes it his mission to go above and beyond for everyone. I have had the privilege of working alongside him as well as in a supervisor role and have witnessed how staff and families alike love interacting with him. The compassion and empathy he displays is unparalleled. He loves to teach and is a great resource and asset to the team, always giving 110%. All too often working in Critical Care nurses can be overlooked because patients are not conscious/stable and families are not present. In Critical Care oftentimes visitors are restricted because their loved ones are requiring extensive care and interventions to keep them alive. There have been more than one of Lewis's patients whom we were not sure if they were going to survive, but he did not focus on that, he just gave it his all to both the patient and the family hoping it was enough. A lot of times the family cannot remember his name, but remembers the emotional support and little touches he gives them to help them during their hardest days, even when the patient is not in a state to be able to create a bond with the care team. A lot of times, it’s when the patient stabilizes and transfers out of Critical Care that they begin their journey to rehabilitation and recovery and they themselves create bonds with their nurses. Because Lewis works tirelessly for the patient and family, often without recognition, I wanted to take this time to say why it is my pleasure to recommend him for this DAISY Award.