Olympic Medical Center’s medical/surgical/pediatrics team members were recently recognized for their efforts with the DAISY Team Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

The award, created by the DAISY Foundation, recognizes the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care provided to patients and families every day.

Denise Harmon, director of medical/surgical/pediatrics accepted a commemorative plaque on behalf of the department. Each honoree received a certificate and DAISY Team pin.

The team received several nominations for the DAISY award by anonymous staff members, who wrote:

“The Med/Surg/Peds team have been caring for a very challenging patient since the end of January. This has been a difficult case from the beginning. The emotional and physical strain this has put on the department is unprecedented. Through all this they still care for the patient with patience and a caring attitude. The staff work together to figure out the patient’s cues and how to respond to them and care for them while keeping themselves and the patient safe. When people from outside of our hospital have come to evaluate this patient, they comment on how well the patient is cared for and the lengths the staff have gone to make sure they are looked after in the best way possible.

“The Med/Surg/Peds team is a true example of how a successful team functions.”

“Recently Med/Surg/Peds had a very difficult and hard-to-place patient. This particular patient would not be considered a typical Med/Surg/Peds patient and required specialized care. The Med/Surg/ Peds team collaborated with other departments to ensure the care plan for this patient was appropriate and followed. They maintained their professionalism and high standards of care in the most trying times.

“The way they worked together with each other, the members of the interdisciplinary team, outside organizations, and the patient to ensure that they could meet the needs of the patient in the best way possible was awe inspiring. Even when they felt down, defeated, and frustrated they showed up and continued to provide quality care. Oftentimes they spent hours at a time tending to this patient, but they were also able to make sure the other Med/Surg/Peds patients were well cared for. They took everything in stride and were able to quickly pivot and remain focused on caring for the patient and working toward making their transition from Med/Surg to their permanent placement as smooth as possible.

“This team is amazing, and their hard work and dedication are a true inspiration as well as an asset to the entire organization.”

Olympic Medical nurses and teams may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him 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 meaningful, hand-carved sculpture called A Healer’s Touch. A cross-functional committee of healthcare workers reviews the nominations and selects the final nominee.

Go to olympicmedical.org/thank-a-nurse for more information or to nominate an extraordinary Olympic Medical Center nurse or nursing team.

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Barnes died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of an auto-immune disease (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem).

The care Barnes 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.

More information can be found at DAISYfoundation.org.