DAISY Award Winner Recognized
Natalie Gardner, BSN, RN, CWON, CFCS, Holzer Wound & Ostomy Nurse, was recently honored with The DAISY Award®. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's programs to recognize the above and beyond efforts nurses perform every day.
The nomination submitted by a recent Holzer patient read “I had my son not knowing infection had set in. They immediately put me in the hospital. Infection had become so bad that my kidneys were about to shut down, requiring a wound vac. This nurse was the one who assisted me with the wound vac. My insurance wouldn’t cover home health care, so I had to go three times a week to get the wound vac changed. One of those days it was acting up, but I was able to return home. This nurse cared so much she provided her personal phone number in case I needed help. I needed assistance when I did arrive home and she took time out of her day to be there for me and my care. She came to my home and helped me when she didn’t have to.”
DAISY stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem. The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick 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.
Said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation, "When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Holzer are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
Nominations for the DAISY award can be submitted by patients, patients’ family members, peers, and providers. The award honors LPNs and RNs across every division of care in the Holzer system, including: acute/hospital, post-acute/long-term care, and ambulatory/outpatient. Nomination forms can be found throughout all Holzer facilities and online at www.holzer.org/DAISY-award. The nominations are verified before being shared with the Holzer DAISY committee to evaluate and score the applicants each month. In nominating an individual, a specific example or scenario of the nurse going above and beyond for a patient is required on the nomination form.
“The DAISY Award program shines a light on all the right,” shared Susan Rowe, RN, MSN, CENP, C-EFM, CLS, Vice President, Nursing Services, Holzer Health System. “Through this program, we are able to meaningfully recognize the extraordinary contributions of nurses, and their efforts to create and sustain healthy work environments. We are honored to formally recognize Natalie as a recipient of the DAISY award.
Gardner began her career at Holzer in January 1986. She has worked in various departments including 4 East Step Down Unit, Home Health, Admission Nurse, and Nursing Supervisor. She moved into her current role in 2018, She received her Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from the University of Rio Grande, Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Ohio University and her Wound and Ostomy education from Emory University. She is Certified by the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board and is certified by the American Foot Care Nurses Association as a Certified foot care specialist.
When asked about working at Holzer, she shared, “I enjoy working at Holzer because of the family atmosphere. I grew up in Gallia County and often see members of the community that I have known for many years. It is rewarding when I can be a part of improving the lives of my patients.
Gardner and her husband of 39 years, Bryan, reside near Rio Grande, Ohio. They have two sons, Alex and Eric, and six grandchildren. Her hobbies include camping, and spending time with her family. She was a caregiver for her grandmother for the past seven years.
When asked about receiving the award, Gardner responded, “I am humbled and honored to receive the DAISY award. I appreciate this nomination from one of my former patients, especially because I felt that I was just doing what needed to be done to ensure she received proper healing.”
To learn more about this program how The DAISY Award recognizes extraordinary nurses, please visit DAISYFoundation.org. To nominate an extraordinary Holzer nurse, visit www.holzer.org/DAISY-award or fill out a paper form at one of our locations.
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