I would like to nominate Ann Martin RN, for the Daisy Award.

In order to nominate someone for the honor of having their picture
posted in a prominent location, and receive the other rewards that come
with being recognized as a Daisy Award winner, there must be a
justification. In order to justify my nomination, I would like to
describe what I believe a Daisy Award winning nurse is, and what
qualities that nurse had in such a way that others could model that
behavior. A patient was brought into the Emergency Department by the
ambulance that had been quite ill for several days. Her two sons found
her in quite a bit of distress and had been trying to take care of her
at home. When they realized that she was not getting better, they
called the ambulance to bring her into the hospital. When she arrived
in the emergency room, her breathing was more of what would be described
as gasping. The usual tests were completed and the ED physician and the
hospitalist were seen standing at the foot of her bed with the two sons,
trying to determine what the best course of action was for her. It was
decided that she needed to be admitted for comfort care, but that there
really was nothing that could be done for her medically to spare her
life. The physicians estimated that at best she would live maybe twelve
hours. The physician turned to me and stated that she did not qualify
for ICU, as all they were going to order was comfort measures, but
wanted to know what the situation was on the medical floor. I told the
physician that I had a room reserved where the family could be with her,
and I had asked Ann to come in from home and this would be her only
patient. The physician then relaxed as he stated that was the very best
thing that could happen to this patient and family.

Ann arrived at the hospital as the patient was arriving on the unit.
She set the family at ease as she described how she was going to get her
settled in the room. Ann with the assistance of Chandra not only
cleaned the patient up, but also massaged her with lotion and combed her
hair. When the family entered the room, the patient was as comfortable
as Ann could make her. Ann busied herself getting the family comfortable
in the room, and then obtained snacks and drinks to keep the family
comfortable as they awaited the expected demise of their mother. I
completed all the required paperwork and waited for the call that she
had passed. The call never came. The next morning as I was walking down
the hall, I noted one of the sons leaning over the bed to ask his mother
how she was doing. I heard her high little voice from within her oxygen
mask state, “I’m doing just fine”

I do not know what the long term outcome will be, but it certainly was
not any medical intervention that brought the aging mother to the place
that she could tell her son that she was doing fine. Ann is noted to be
the kind of nurse that can take on the patients with the seemingly
hopeless infections or sores or other conditions people find themselves
in and with her dedication and compassion, do what medicine cannot, and
help them heal. That is why I nominate Ann Martin for the Daisy Award

W.Larry Hamilton