Baptist Celebrates Compassionate DAISY Award Winners

Compassionate hearts are winning out across the Baptist system. Several nurses earned the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, recognizing them for their compassionate care.

Paula Browning, RN, 2 Main at Baptist Union County, was nominated by several patients who praised her for her compassion and kindness. “Paula is a credit to her profession,” wrote one patient. “She shows kindness, respect and a knowledge of her duties at all times.”

“It is truly an honor to recognize Paula for her compassion and professionalism,” said Randy White, chief nursing officer at Baptist Union County. “Paula’s consistent smile and commitment to caring for her patients exemplifies what a true DAISY Award winner should be.”

Nursing administration also recognized Sarah Conlee for receiving the most DAISY nominations in 2015. Sarah was nominated eight times last year by patients, family members, and team members.

Ariel Carter-Jones and Petra Lockhart, nurses at Baptist Memphis, were also recognized for their compassion.

Ariel, a cardiac medicine nurse, was nominated by a patient’s wife for her attentive care. “Ariel came in many times during the day and evening to check on him,” wrote the nominator. “Her smile would melt your heart.”

The nominator pointed out that, on the third day of their stay, Ariel wasn’t assigned to their room but still checked in on the patient.

Petra, a Baptist Health Sciences University graduate, was nominated by a patient’s father for her professional and considerate care. “He clearly appreciates her, as does our entire family,” wrote the nominator.

At NEA Baptist Hospital, Leslie Ditto’s extra measure of compassion led one family through their most difficult time. An RN in intensive care for more than four years, she handled a father’s death with grace. “I want to personally thank Ms. Ditto for the care she provided my dad and the compassion she showed my family. She is an excellent nurse and has served her patient and his family very well in my father’s case.”

Cassie Huffer BSN, RN, has worked in NEA Baptist Hospital’s ICU for about a year. When a family faced the decision to remove their loved one from all life support, they chose not to be present.

Cassie stayed with the patient, holding her hand until she died. Her best friend wasn’t at the hospital but learned of Cassie’s compassionate decision. “I just want to say thanks for the care that Cassie gave my best friend while she was in the ICU. Cassie was amazing with the family and her care for the patient, so loving”

Jordan Johnson BSN, RN, also works in NEA Baptist Hospital’s ICU, caring for patients for nearly three years. In one case, she went out of her way to make an older patient feel welcome—despite his rather difficult nature.

After being readmitted to ICU, the patient found himself under Jordan’s care again.

“My friend returned to the ICU last week. Little did we know, but this would be his last visit to the ICU. He had a bad heart, failing kidneys, and his lungs were full of fluid. As fate would have it, Jordan was his nurse. She was so gentle and compassionate. The way she dealt with him and the way she responded to him, it was easy to see that Jordan was born to be a nurse.”