PIITTSFIELD, Mass. —  Cardiac care nurse Susan Alibozek was honored with Berkshire Medical Center's first DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, a national nursing recognition program that has been adopted by thousands of hospitals to honor individual nurses who have had a tremendous impact on patient care.

 

Based on a nomination received from the granddaughter of a BMC patient, Alibozek had a huge impact on the patient and family.

 

"My grandmother fell and broke her femur around her hip joint implant. It was a bad break that required a lengthy surgery. When we got to BMC, the doctors were also concerned about her heart so she was admitted to the 4th floor. During her stay, communications with the nursing team was wonderful," said Crystal Van Deusen in her nomination. "Sue Alibozek was the amazing nurse that got stuck listening to me. She took all the time that was needed with me to explain and calm me. She walked me through everything that had happened — all that I was either unaware of or had little knowledge of. She also told me what the next steps were and what options we had. She treated me and more importantly my grandmother with dignity, grace, compassion empathy and respect."

 

Using the acronym PETALS, BMC's criteria for nominating a nurse for a DAISY Award is:

P: Passion and compassion — for nursing and the care they provided

E: Empathy — toward individual patients and their loved ones

T: Trust and teamwork — does the nurse convey a sense of trust and security

A: Admirable attributes

L: Love, for patient and profession

S: Selflessness

 

"It truly shows how much passion she has for nursing and compassion for her patients," continued Van Deusen. "She even suggested a few things that I hadn't thought of so I know she has a huge heart and has superior knowledge. She was an advocate for gramma when I wasn't there and it made things so much easier, I was able to trust her and her judgment. A thank you doesn't seem like it's enough to say to Sue for her selflessness, compassion, love and respect."

 

The DAISY Award will be bestowed monthly following a nomination process and review by an interdisciplinary oversight committee. BMC staff, patients, and the general community can submit nominations. The nomination form can be found on each floor and in patient welcome packets.

 

The DAISY Foundation was started in memory of Patrick Barnes, who passed away in 1999 from complications of the autoimmune disease ITP, or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

 

His family wanted to turn their grief into something positive. The DAISY acronym stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. As they brainstormed on what the foundation would do they kept coming back to conversations about how wonderful Barnes' nurses were. Their mission became to express gratitude to nurses with programs that recognize them for their extraordinary skillful, compassionate care provided to patients and families.

 

The program is now in over 4,500 health-care facilities across the United States and around the world.