Ways to Give
Contact Us >
South County Health’s nurses understand what it takes to provide an exceptional patient experience for those in their care. On Wednesday, March 16, Lynne Caldarone, RN was surprised to learn that she was a recipient of the DAISY Award for what she did for a patient that went beyond hospital care.
After a visit to the Emergency Department turned into a five-day inpatient admission, a patient who was just diagnosed with cancer was being discharged. Despite the devastating news of her health, she found comfort “surrounded by an amazing team of doctors and nursing staff” who took care of her.
Lynne was one of the last nurses the patient encountered.
“I was waiting to be discharged and for my transport to arrive,” the patient said in her nomination of Lynne for the DAISY Award. “She could tell I was nervous, unsettled you might say. She asked if I wanted to talk.”
Lynne took time out of her busy day and focused all of her attention on the woman who was in obvious distress.
“I told her about my condition, she listened. At times I cried, and she comforted me with words of encouragement. I shared my concern for my special-needs son at home and how my condition is going to impact his care down the road which I provide. Lynne offered to help in the only way she could personally - all I needed was to ask.”
The two exchanged phone numbers with Lynne telling the woman to call “even to talk or for someone to listen, a shoulder to cry on, or even a helping hand to watch my son if I needed some respite.”
In her nomination, the patient called Lynne “an amazing human being” for her kindness, compassion, and caring.
“During one of the most difficult times in my life, this stranger willingly gives me her valuable time to comfort me. Lynne gave me the strength and confidence to leave the hospital that day with the hope I can beat this and that I’m going to be OK.”
Although the patient was not able to take part in the DAISY Award ceremony, Lynne was surrounded by her colleagues in the Telemetry Unit, accepting the statuette, a bouquet of daisies, and the traditional basket of cinnamon buns that is part of the DAISY tradition.
About The DAISY Foundation
The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes. His family was awestruck by the care and compassion his nurses provided and one of the goals they set in creating a Foundation was to recognize extraordinary nurses everywhere who make an enormous difference in the lives of so many people by the super-human work they do every day.
Cinnamon rolls were a favorite of Patrick’s during his illness. The Barnes Family asks that whenever and wherever nurses smell that wonderful cinnamon aroma, they stop for a moment and think about how special they are.
To nominate a nurse for the DAISY Award, patients, visitors, nurses, physicians, or colleagues may complete and submit the form on our website.
If the nurse you nominate is selected as the recipient, you will be contacted to share in the celebration.