Sara is very much a patient advocate and is always seen on the unit as gong above and beyond for her patients. However, just recently, what I saw in the care that she provided to a patient and her husband, made me think about how she exemplifies a true DAISY Nurse.

We had a confused patient (dementia) who was on our floor from a local Memory Care Facility. The patient was scared and upset because her husband had not yet arrived and she became more agitated, so much so that we could not control her and a Code Burt was called when she was in the hallway. Sara had been in touch with the husband and let him know what was going on and he was on his way. Once the patient was back in the room and given medication she started to calm down. Her husband had arrived and was upset saying, "I didn't realize she was this bad". He was upset and tearful. At this point, Sara began taking care of the spouse since the patient was settled.

The husband stayed in the room with the patient and then came out telling Sara that "she is getting worked up again and is fixated on leaving to go get a banana split". The patient was out in the hall at this point, would not listen to her husband, started to hit him and again Sara stepped in. She reassured the patient that she would get a banana split for her. Sara ran downstairs bought bananas, came back and put them in a staff's cereal bowl so that it would look "real" and put the ice cream on it. By now the patient was halfway down the hall, trying to leave to get the ice cream. Sara gave the bowl to the husband, who showed it to the patient and the patient then began to follow her husband back to her room with Sara at her side. The patient remained calm and the husband sat at her bedside as she ate her banana split. Sara is a wonderful and caring nurse and this was shown by the care that she provided to this couple.