Great nurses help patients feel as comfortable as possible while receiving care. But exceptional nurses go beyond that level of care, as pediatric cancer nurse Trevor Wolf did when he shaved his head to ease the worries of a young cancer patient.
Wolf, a nurse in the oncology unit at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, was awarded with the hospital's DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses on July 8.
A young patient’s family tried to gently persuade the patient to shave his head so his hair loss would not bother him, but the patient was very upset. That’s when Trevor stepped up.
“Trevor decided they could make a game of it: Trevor would shave his hair to show the patient it would be okay,” the nomination card reads. “Going above and beyond for his patient that day, Trevor came in with hair at the beginning of his shift—and by lunchtime, Trevor was bald.”
Thanks to a partnership with the DAISY Foundation and United Healthcare, the honor is presented to an exceptional nurse like Wolf every month at Cardinal Glennon. SSM Cardinal Glennon launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in March.
“The DAISY Award program has offered Cardinal Glennon a great way to recognize our nurses every month—not just for the exceptional care they provide but for the indescribable impact they have on our patients and their families,” said Sherlyn Hailstone, president of SSM Cardinal Glennon.
Wolf is the fourth winner of the DAISY Award. The first three winners were: Linda Fecenko, pediatric intensive care unit; Karen Imperiale, oncology unit; and transport nurse Jody Sotiropoulos.
Tena Barnes Carraher, Patrick’s wife and DAISY Foundation co-founder and vice president, attended the presentation. She was joined by Steve Walli, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Missouri.
“We are so grateful for the wonderful nursing care that Pat received,” Barnes Carraher said. “The nurses truly went above and beyond and made an unbearable time more bearable.”
Each month, nurses in more than 500 participating hospitals across the United States are nominated by their colleagues and patients to receive The DAISY Award. The honorees receive a certificate commending outstanding clinical care and a designation of being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” The honorees are also given a sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.
UnitedHealthcare has supported The Daisy Foundation since 2006, contributing more than $98,000 to date.