Easing anxiety

After a hospital visit, patients have the ability to recognize nurses who go above and beyond by nominating them for a DAISY award.

This spring, Greater Regional Medical Center had 18 nurses nominated for the award, presenting both Karla Hynes and Laura Hibbs with the spring DAISY award.

The winner is chosen by an anonymous system where a select committee of people read the submissions with the names removed and vote for a winner.

The DAISY program started in 1999 in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications from Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). His family was so touched by the care they received from his nurses they started the DAISY program.

DAISY is an acronym for diseases against the autoimmune system. The Greater Regional DAISY award ceremony took place during National Nurses Week, May 6-12, and honored the nurses and their stories.

Part of nursing is building a strong connection with patients. In some scenarios, patients will be going through an incredibly stressful point in their lives, and any amount of support can make a difference.

This is known by DAISY Award winner Laura Hibbs. As a nurse who works regularly with children in the oncology department of Greater Regional Health, she understands her work is more than a job.

“In their time of stress, when they’re uncomfortable, you can have a big impact on them, even if it is just doing your job,” Hibbs said.

Hibbs has worked as a nurse since 2017 and has worked at Greater Regional since 2023. Part of her routine involves multiple infusions per day, which means getting to know patients becomes a daily task.

To Hibbs, taking care of children can be different.

“Kids don’t have the notion of what to expect,” Hibbs said. “You can make it a pleasant experience for them and put them at ease. When we get adults, they already know what to expect. They’ve had blood draws, they’ve had IVs; it’s a small facility. We can explain step-by-step the process and talk to them for anything that puts them at ease.

Whether an adult or child, Hibbs said she always tries to include patients and give them as much information as possible to ease their worries. It’s a part of how she builds trust with her patients, and a vital one.

“It’s not as scary for them when they understand what’s happening,” Hibbs said.

Hibbs was nominated for the DAISY Award after her experience working with a 10-year-old patient who came to the infusion center for five months. The boy received two days of IVIG infusions each month. The nomination said Hibbs helped ease the boy’s anxiety about having a needle poke.

The nomination said Hibbs helped the boy “laugh at her jokes, allow him to be an advocate for his care, as well as follow up on his personal life checking in on his family’s health and his sports team.”

Remembering the patient, Hibbs said part of taking care of the boy was leaning into his curiosity. The boy was interested in working in health care, so Hibbs helped him learn exactly what was happening.

“He was more into learning about it,” Hibbs said. “He wanted to be a doctor so I explained everything; he was very curious.”

Hibbs fondly remembers the patient.

“I enjoyed working with the kiddo,” Hibbs said. “It’s fun getting to know him outside being just a patient. It’s special.”

Receiving the DAISY nomination for her work with the patient was special for Hibbs, not just because Hibbs felt appreciated for her work but it helped her realize her actions help her patients.

“It’s an honor to get it,” Hibbs said. “It is your job but it makes you realize the impact you have on a person.”

Other nurses nominated were Faith Berry, Justy Cheers, Kenzie Cole, Anthony Hutchings, Marla McFarland, Rachel Miller, Diane Nuzum, Travis Ruppert, Ashley Siepker, Anita Studer, Loretta Umbenhower, Tricia Williams, Carrie Wood, Elizabeth Pryor, Brit Woodside and Katie Zimmerman.

To share a positive experience and nominate a nurse for the DAISY award, visit www.greaterregional.org/share-your-story.