October 2013
Jeri
Fonacier
,
RN
Medical Services
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Los Angeles
,
CA
United States

 

 

 

Geraldine (Jeri) Fonacier, RN, 5 East, received the DAISY Award at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Jeri, who has been with Children's Hospital for more than 20 years, was described by fellow nurses, colleagues and friends as "tenacious," "caring," "compassionate" and "resourceful". She is also a "worrier" who is always concerned with providing the best care for patients, while being an "advocate for everyone".

While accepting her award, an emotional Jeri exclaimed, "I am shocked and overwhelmed. I care about everybody here. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for all of you."

While presenting the award to Jeri, Mary Dee Hacker, MBA, NEA-BC, FAAN, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, described nursing as "the most important job in the world" because nurses are healers within the hospital community.

Hacker explained that nurses not only care for the sickest patients, but they also take the time to provide family-centered care, a fundamental value that is near and dear to the Children's Hospital way of providing care.