I am writing to nominate Steve DeJong, RN for the DAISY Award given for compassion and caring for a patient. I was recently hospitalized and admitted through the emergency room. Steve was my emergency room nurse. I was lying on a low bed in the ED, in extreme pain, curled on my side, diaphoretic, and vomiting. Everyone in the ED was very nice and helpful. I felt that Steve was especially considerate of me as a patient. He did the usual things like get an IV going, start antibiotics and other medicines, start a morphine drip, etc.

Steve also did many other things that I was especially thankful for as a patient. For example, he was pushing small doses of morphine and assessing my reaction to the pain and to the morphine. He squatted down to talk to me at face level and maintained that position for several minutes. In my vulnerable position and condition, this was so appreciated. I am sure this was not a particularly comfortable position for him but it allowed me to talk to him much more easily. There were many people in the room and Steve’s position enabled the physician to talk over him to me and for me to see my husband who was standing in the corner.

Steve looked me in the eye when we were talking and he accurately assessed how much information to give to me. When he talked with me his voice was low and calm and his communications clear. Steve gave me a running commentary on what he was doing, what the orders were, and how I was doing. I felt that any signal or word from me would be seen or heard by Steve.

Steve is a wonderful nurse and human being. He deserves the DAISY Award.

Marcy Vixie (patient & Director of Quality at Central Washington Hospital)