Tracey Reinders, RN, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Home Care, has been named a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses winner. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® is part of The DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) 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. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen based on specific criteria to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are presented to one recipient on a quarterly basis at celebrations attended by the honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors. Reinders was nominated by a patient’s family member who wrote:
“My husband is facing terminal cancer. When his doctor suggested SSM Health Home Care, we signed on. Tracey visited us once a week. On one particular day, she visited and we were thankful because my husband was not feeling well. Tracey sat with him, asked him lots of questions almost MacGyver style. We could almost see her mind churning and putting thoughts together. She asked a question and my husband said that his hands sometimes tremor/shake. In a shorter time than it took me to write that information, Tracey was done asking questions and said we needed to get to the ER. She wasted no time putting him in our car. I barely had time to put on my shoes and grab my key. She wasn’t going to wait. As we backed out of the driveway, we could see her parked along the street and talking on her phone. When we arrived at the ER, I went in and said I needed help, gave my name and was told that Tracey had called ahead. He received care immediately. My husband was very sick and stayed in the hospital for seven days. He is still terminal, of course, but he is still with us and still fighting to live a quality life. Our thanks goes to Tracey for recognizing the situation and taking quick action. We will forever be grateful.”
Reinders was recognized on September 19 during a brief ceremony. She received a certificate commending her as an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin, and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” according to Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, president and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human, extraordinary, compassionate work they do. The kind of work the nurses St. Agnes Hospital Home Care are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.” More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.
