I would like to nominate Wendy LaBerge RN from 3North as a deserving recipient of the DAISY Award. Wendy is an invaluable team member on our unit. She is an extraordinary nurse who is respectful, thoughtful, and collaborates with other team members of the healthcare team to meet family and patient’s needs. As our UBC chair, she advocates for the welfare of our patient’s by putting forth positive changes and measureable outcomes for the good of our unit as well as the patient population in which she serves.
One example of Wendy’s outstanding nature is when she assisted an unruly and difficult patient. The patient was homeless and unfortunately, her hair had become matted and unmanageable. It was well beyond the ability to wash and comb it to make it manageable again. Wendy took it upon herself to bring out her pre-nursing skills of hairdressing. She cut and styled this patient’s hair by completely cutting off all the matted locks and giving her a cute pixie haircut. During the “treatment” the patient was calm and seemed to be enjoying herself. This sacred encounter allowed the patient to relax when she is normally aggressive and uncooperative. Afterwards, the patient ran her hand through her newly cut frock and said “thanks”.
This, I feel is an example of Wendy advocating for a patient and going above and beyond patient care by meeting a need that otherwise would have been neglected.