I would like to nominate Randy Rowland for the DAISY award. For the last 66 days we have had a blind, deaf, mute brain injured patient on 3West. He came from a SNF where for the previous 6 months he had no interpreter communication.

After challenges with frequent assaultive behavior and guttural screaming with frustration all over the unit, we recruited a group of nurses who we thought would work best with this challenging patient. Randy was one of our go to nurses as he often is for our most challenging patients. Working with the interpreters he assessed the needs that would give this patient the best opportunity for independence and to diminish his frustration. A typed up care plan articulated specifics of how to organize Bill's care. The room was emptied of all potentially harmful items so he could tactilly explore his room. The doors were padded to prevent injury. A strategy for getting out of bed consistently on the same side to go to the bathroom so he could touch the wall and thus guide himself to the bathroom was started.

I could go on and I want to make clear that many other staff contributed significantly to working with this patient. What so impressed me about Randy was that he didn’t spend a minute being overwhelmed by the challenge. He just went about assessing the needs of this challenging patient and attempting to meet them. I learn something positive about nursing care every time I work with Randy.

For the compassionate and patient centered care of this patient and a multitude of others Randy deserves this DAISY Award.