Donald Butz (DJ), the director of the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, is one of the most thoughtful, caring, and selfless individuals you will ever meet. DJ touches the lives of others in countless ways. He is a positive role model for his team members offering to help in any way on a regular basis. He has been known to assist with patient care, transport patients off the nursing unit and cover nurse's assignments for lunch. He even assisted a nursing student who is an employee of the hospital with a planned presentation speech to lessen her anxiety.
DJ is very humble and will say he is 'not doing anything special', but it is not often you find someone who will stop what he is doing in the middle of a snowy evening to pick up one of his nurses who was stranded on the highway and bring her to work. DJ has also gone above and beyond by purchasing a homeless woman new clothes, so she had something to wear upon discharge (she cried because of his generosity). He also bought pizza for a sobbing patient who had to celebrate her birthday in the hospital.
DJ will go out of his way to brighten your day. DJ is very appreciative of the care his team members provide to the patients and family members. He welcomes and thanks his staff, nursing students and anyone floated to the nursing unit. To show his appreciation, DJ has been known to buy his team members food or desserts at random times and buy tickets to a local baseball game for anyone wishing to attend.
Recently, DJ was made aware of a staff member whose loved one presented to our hospital. He arrived to support her during this devastating time in her life. DJ makes sure he is readily available by phone, email or in person. These are just a few of the amazing things DJ does that may go unrecognized. Whether or not you have had the pleasure of meeting DJ, you can see what an outstanding person and Nurse Leader he is. From my entire team on the Neuroscience Intensive Care unit, thank you for recognizing DJ Butz as our hospital's first DAISY Nurse Leader.