Vickie Robbins, RN, of National Park Medical Center's intensive care unit, was recently honored with The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses.
The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's programs to recognize the "superhuman efforts nurses perform every day," a news release said.
Robbins' nomination was submitted by the brother of a patient for whom she cared during the COVID-a9 pandemic. His emotional nomination spoke to Vickie's dedication to communicating with him from afar throughout his brother's entire battle, the release said.
He wrote, " ... This nurse's thoughtful reports by phone absolutely closed the gap of distance. It was clear to me that this nurse understood my brother as her patient and as a human being. When it became clear to me that my brother was completely dependent upon the ventilator for his breathing and medications to keep his blood pressure and heart rate stable, I asked this nurse if this was indeed the case. The nurse kindly confirmed my understanding. ... In the midst of this profoundly difficult situation and decision my confidence in this nurse's expertise and care I asked if this nurse could be the one to take care of my brother through this process. She said yes and carefully explained the steps to me.
"I knew that I could count on her to provide respect and human dignity toward my brother in following the physician's orders. I wanted a local Presbyterian pastor to come to ICU to offer a prayer and blessing of my brother's life and this nurse made that arrangement possible. This was of great comfort to me and honored our family ... Since I was not able to be there this nurse made sure that I was as present as possible. She called me throughout the process and then right after my brother took his last breath, she explained that he was now at peace. I am clear that I could not have navigated this profoundly challenging time of looking out for my brother in the midst of his critical condition without the extraordinary patient care provided by his nurse. From our first conversation by phone to our final call after my brother's death his nurse went the distance with him and with me. I will be forever grateful that my brother had such a remarkable nurse looking after him and walking with me during this journey."
Additional honorees were Sarah Duran, RN, Med 2; Oralia Garcia, RN, ICU; Linda Lee, LPN, Med/Surg; and Tiffany Mann, RN, Med 2.
The nonprofit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, California, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, a little-known but not uncommon autoimmune disease, the release said.
"The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families," it said.
"We are so proud of the work that our nurses perform daily at NPMC to fulfill our mission of Making Communities Healthier. We are also proud to recognize our nurses for their extraordinary care and their unique relationships with patients and families through our partnership with The DAISY Foundation. Vickie Robbins, RN, is an excellent representation of a DAISY nurse, evident by her dedication to the delivery of high quality, compassionate care, and her dedication to communication and teamwork. Each of our honorees," Chief Nursing Officer Lisa Wallace said in the release.
"When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced firsthand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the superhuman work they do. The kind of work the nurses at National Park Medical Center are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award," Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, Doctor of Humane Letters (h.c.) and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation, said in the release.
Visit http://DAISYfoundation.org for a complete listing of health care organizations currently running the program.