BENNINGTON, Vt. — Brittany Felton, RN, a Medical/Surgical nurse, was the May recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC).

 

"Patients appreciate Brittany's motivational spirit and her extraordinary attention to their unique needs," said Pamela Duchene, PhD, APRN, SVHC's chief nursing officer and vice president for Patient Care Services. "As one family member put it, she helps patients feel more like themselves."

 

Duchene gave the award during a surprise presentation on 2 West at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

 

Felton received three nominations from patients.

 

One nominator wrote, "Brittany took time to really explain what I must do. She really encouraged me to work hard to get better. She pushed me to … focus on my recovery … She was a great cheerleader."

 

In another nomination, the patient's spouse described Brittany's genuine compassion and her willingness to listen, including how she talked the patient through the anxiety of her diagnosis and comforted her feelings about being away from her family during the weeks of her hospital stay.

 

"I was very glad to see her training a nursing student on one of [my wife's] last days [in the hospital]," the patient's spouse wrote.  "They picked the exact right person for training."

 

After having received the award, Felton said, "I feel overwhelmed. The love and support I get from SVMC has made me the nurse that I am today, and it's an amazing feeling to be recognized for it. Each of the patients who nominated me have a special place in my heart."

 

Felton holds an associate's in nursing from Vermont Tech. She has worked as an RN at SVMC for 6 years. Previously, she worked as an licensed practical nurse in a private-care capacity.   

 

The DAISY Award is part of a national merit-based recognition program established by the DAISY Foundation. It celebrates nurses' education, training, and skill. Nominations can be submitted by patients, families, physicians, and colleagues. All nominations are blinded, so that they are anonymous before being reviewed by a selection committee. One nurse is then chosen as the DAISY Award winner. DAISY Awards are presented on a regular basis, usually bi-monthly or quarterly.