Aya Brag Board

Sarah receives a DAISY Award!

Sarah was presented with a DAISY Award for the extraordinary care she gave to a facility leader’s family member, who testified how amazing Sarah is.

The nominator wrote, “My spouse passed away at the hospital. I received a call that they were in full cardiac arrest and that they were doing CPR. When I got to the room, I met Sarah. She was so wonderful during that tough time. She explained everything and spoke with such kindness and compassion. When the doctor came in, we discussed comfort measures. I asked a couple of questions, and he started to backpedal, telling me I could wait for 24-48 hours. When he left, I asked Sarah to tell me in plain English what the prognosis was. She gave me her honest opinion, and after reading the report and looking at the chest x-ray, I decided to sign for comfort measures. Sarah walked me through the entire process. It’s hard to express how wonderful she was. She explained everything in detail. When the paperwork was done, my spouse was alone; Sarah was there the entire time — even though it meant staying past her shift.

“When I left the hospital, Sarah asked me to call her when I got home. She knew I was upset, and it was storming that day. She continued to update me and reassure me again that my spouse would not be alone. I’ll never forget my interactions with Sarah. She made this most awful day something I can calmly and peacefully look back on. I think her treatment of my spouse and me makes her a true DAISY nurse. I am so proud to know there are so many team members that do the right thing every day for patients and their families. I will never forget the positive things that happened during such a terrible time. I have told everyone who has asked about my spouse’s passing of the truly extraordinary care we both received.”

What a beautiful story! Congratulations on your hard work and recognition, Sarah! ...

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A patient nominates Erin for a DAISY Award

A patient nominated Erin for a DAISY Award, thanking her for her outstanding care and for the above and beyond support she gave their newborn baby and family.

The patient wrote, “It’s hard to explain what Erin means to us, but I’ll try. Erin was my postpartum nurse last week. Her demeanor, bedside manner and care were all top notch. It’s evident she chose this profession because she truly cares and takes an interest. She doesn’t just come in to give you meds and take vitals — she also takes time to listen to you and your baby’s needs. 

“At one point, my baby’s oxygen dropped, and they turned grayish in front of our eyes. Erin handled the situation calmly so I wouldn’t freak out. She took control and immediately became my baby’s advocate. She made sure the nursery and doctors didn’t dismiss it as “poor lighting” as they initially insisted. Her confidence, experience and persistence got my baby the NICU care she needed for testing and observation. Throughout our stay, she made sure my husband and I were in the loop with updates, as you can imagine our fear was substantial. Erin handled our case with care and saw us through discharge. If it wasn’t for Erin, God forbid it could have turned out different. It was her persisting insistence that advocated for my child. We are forever grateful for her. We got more than a nurse — we felt like we were with family.”

That’s some high praise, Erin. Thank you for your compassionate care and hard work. ...

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Alexandria is nominated for a DAISY Award

A coworker nominated Alexandria for a DAISY Award for her exceeding and devoted care and for demonstrating true compassion while nursing.

The coworker said, “I want to nominate Alexandria for a DAISY award for going above and beyond for a patient who had a hospital stay that was longer than anticipated. Through the course of the patient’s stay, they became depressed and defeated. Alexandria dedicated herself to ensuring the patient had a home away from home. She cut and styled the patient’s hair and made them feel good about themselves when they had nothing left to give. She helped them into a wheelchair (no small task) and took them outside to get sunlight after being inside for almost two months. This brightened the patient’s day, and we all witnessed them perk up and smile for the first time in a long time. The patient was moved by the compassion Alexandria showed.

“Alexandria demonstrates exactly what nursing is through the extraordinary work ethic, knowledge and passion she brings to work every day. She puts her patient first and made a lasting impact on this patient’s life as they resolved to participate more in their care and work harder to move toward discharge. Alexandria did this because she wanted to, not for recognition or praise. Her care for people is genuine and she sets an example for all of us to follow. I am proud to call her a colleague and friend.”

Alexandria, your compassionate care is an inspiration to those around you. Keep up the good work! ...

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RRT, Sonja, receives compliments from patients’ parents

The parents of several patients complimented Sonja on her compassionate and stellar care. 

Sonja’s nurse manager explained, “We had a kind word passed on today when one of our babies was discharged. The mother of our patient was very complimentary of Sonja saying, ‘Sonja saw me at my lowest this admission and she was there when I needed her. I am so very grateful.’”

Another patient’s parent said, “Sonja was amazing with our daughter. She took her time and explained the breathing treatment and made sure my daughter was doing it correctly. She was so kind and encouraging and patient. She was amazing. Thank you, Sonja!”

Sonja’s recruiter added, “Sonja is a pleasure to represent. She has a very positive attitude and speaks about her assignment with dedication.”

Amazing work, Sonja! Your patients and their families are grateful for your care, and so are we! ...

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RRT, Timothy, receives praise from a facility director

A facility director complimented Tim for his exemplary work and expressed how much they’d love to keep working with him.

The director said, “The pediatric team mentioned what a great job Tim does when they work with him. The doctor’s exact quote was, ‘I don’t know where he came from, but he is welcome to stay. He is great!’ Thank you!”

Tim’s recruiter also added, “It’s no surprise Tim was recognized for his hard work and dedication at the hospital. He is a wonderful traveler to work with. He’s always very professional, knows exactly what he wants in an assignment and goes after it.”

The people you work with see your hard work and dedication, Tim. Keep it up!

Aya RN, Cynthia, receives feedback from her colleague

An Aya employee praised Cynthia for the genuine care and compassion she showed while taking care of their mother.

The Aya employee wrote, “After three weeks, my mom was transferred out of the CVICU and into a step-down unit. Unfortunately, there were some setbacks and my mom was transitioned back into the ICU. That’s when we met Cynthia, and wow — she sure made a positive impact during the single day shift she cared for my mom. There was a warmth in her nursing, and she brought confidence through her communication and decision-making. She was so kind and gentle and even got my mom to laugh. 

“Cynthia also understood how difficult the situation was for me and my family, and she spent time chatting with us and making us feel at ease. We spoke in depth about my mom’s situation, but she also asked what she was like before being admitted to the hospital. She showed genuine interest when my dad spoke about their world travels and the travel plans they had made for the near future before my mom’s health setbacks.”

That’s some great praise, Cynthia. Thank you for your genuine care and excellent work! ...

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Aya RN, Alyssa, receives the first “Traveler of the Month” award!

An appreciative patient sent Alyssa a sincere thank you note, which led to her receiving the first-ever “Traveler of the Month Award” at the hospital.

The patient wrote, “Alyssa, I wanted to share my heart with you. You were such an answer to prayers. You helped me through one of the hardest, scariest things I have been through. You made me feel cared about and that I mattered. No matter how busy you were, you made time for me. You advocated for me and, as simple as the cheese platter was, it had a huge impact. I’m not usually the person people go out of the way for — I’m usually the one who ensures everyone has what they need or want, and it felt good to be spoiled. We need all nurses to have your heart. You are not just an amazing nurse but an amazing person. Again, thank you so very much. You made a huge difference and gave me hope. I will never forget you.”

Congratulation, Alyssa! Your hard work and care do not go unnoticed. ...

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Aya travel nurse, Seth, receives praise from an Aya colleague

An Aya employee praised RN, Seth, for taking excellent care of their mother in a time of uncertainty.

The Aya employee wrote, “I met Seth after sleeping overnight in the CVICU waiting room. My mom had just been transferred as she needed higher levels of care. It was a very scary night and perhaps one of the most critical points in my mom’s journey. At around 6:00 a.m. we were told we could enter her room. We were exhausted, worried and had no idea what to expect. As we pulled back the curtain, Seth was standing there. He looked at me, gazed at my Aya Healthcare sweatshirt and said, ‘hey, I work there, too.’

“At that point, for some reason, my emotions got the better of me and I started to cry. I immediately felt at ease knowing an extension of my work family was caring for my mom in her most critical time. Some very worrisome events occurred in the nine hours after her transport, and I doubt Seth knew what was coming his way when he clocked in for his night shift that evening, but I am so glad he did. He was compassionate, knowledgeable and skilled and helped me and my family feel at ease during a stressful time.”

Your hard work and compassion make a difference, Seth. The patient and her family appreciate your care, and so do we! ...

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Travel nurse, Jessica, is nominated for a DAISY Award

A charge nurse nominated Jessica for a DAISY Award for displaying extraordinary care, having a heart of gold and truly being invaluable to patients and facility staff.

The charge nurse wrote, “I witnessed Jessica make amazing impacts on our patients’ lives day in and day out. Our facility relies on travel nurses to meet our patient care demands and there are few travel nurses who have stood out as much as Jessica. She bravely took care of COVID patients despite knowing the risk of bringing the virus home to her family, and that takes heart — the heart of a hero. Her dedication, hard work and exemplary performance are consistent with the highest standards of care. Jessica is truly one of a kind and I believe she deserves a DAISY Award.”

Jessica, your dedication to quality care is an inspiration. Keep up the good work! ...

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