October 2023 DAISY Award: Nancy Russell

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Nancy Russell, RN, Pediatric Acute, is the October DAISY Award recipient at Stony Brook Children鈥檚 Hospital. 

Nancy was nominated by a parent of a former patient as well as her co-workers who all shared how Nancy provides all her patients and their families with care and compassion. The nomination submitted by the patient鈥檚 mother stated, 鈥淣ancy held my son鈥檚 hand during a difficult time after surgery. It was a tough situation, and he was in excruciating pain. Nancy reassured him and kept talking to him. She held his hand the entire time. She immediately gave him pain medication he needed.鈥

Nancy鈥檚 co-workers wrote, 鈥淣ancy constantly goes above and beyond to connect with her patients and their families. She is often found in a patient鈥檚 room chitchatting and giving tons of advice 鈥 both medical advice and life advice. She is warm, engaging, encouraging and respectful. She often goes above her call as a bedside nurse to that of an amazing human and friend. Nancy鈥檚 goal each shift is to not only take care of each of her patients each day to the best of her ability, but to make sure they are as happy and as comfortable as possible.鈥

One story submitted tells of Nancy鈥檚 compassion and care when a mother ran to Starbucks to get a much-needed cup of coffee. Mom was thrilled to be able to step away from the bedside, take a walk by herself and get a big cup of caffeine. As soon as the mom returned to the patient鈥檚 room, she dropped the entire cup of coffee all over the floor. Nancy not only helped the mom clean up, but promptly ordered the mom a brand-new coffee exactly to her liking and hand delivered it to her. The patient鈥檚 mom broke out in tears over the level of support and sympathy Nancy offered to her.