The DAISY Award recognizes a nurse who is skilled and compassionate, but who also has a keen sense of the importance of veteran and staff well-being. Our Infection Prevention RN, Kelly Cox, has made an incredible difference in the CLC by going above and beyond for everyone during the most challenging and stressful time of the pandemic.

Kelly has often been known to adjust her schedule (including canceling AL), and even call the floor in the evenings and weekends, just to reassure and educate staff. Her clever and very creative signs and educational presentations make everyone feel at ease and comfortable. She is considered a subject matter expert and is always called upon to help answer the tough questions regarding COVID no matter what time of the day or night.

One evening, a resident in the dementia unit had a Positive COVID result, and Kelly was made aware. She took the time (on her own time) to check in with the charge nurse and review the plan and gave compliments as the staff were already prepared and knew what to do. Kelly made sure to reassure everyone that they were doing the right thing and to keep being vigilant.

Several veterans reached out to Kelly for information and felt better after speaking to her. Several staff members let me know that they really appreciated her calls, her calm demeanor, her frequent rounding, and her expertise and knowledge. Kelly’s self-assessment and annual review justify her as an outstanding nurse for her performance in her role and duties of the Infection Preventionist and several I-care awards show her character as a VA employee. She even volunteers her singing talents for special VA celebrations. But this nomination is for the extra effort she puts forth to make a meaningful difference to the well-being of staff and veterans in the CLC. She doesn’t just “do her job”, she loves doing her job and it shows! She’s our beautiful DAISY in the middle of an ugly COVID field of brown dried-up corn.