Naomi Tuthill, LPN Honored for Skill and Kindness

ECH presents its first DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses

When you love what you do, it shows.

Naomi Tuthill, LPN almost glows when speaking of her chance to help others, “I have the privilege of caring for my neighbors and the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Known for her positive attitude and attention to patients’ concerns, Tuthill is the first recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at The University of Vermont Health Network - Elizabethtown Community Hospital.

For more than six years, Tuthill has worked with patients at the hospital’s Crown Point Health Center taking vitals, administering vaccines and working alongside providers to care for patients’ needs. She was nominated by two different patients for her skill and kindness.

One patient shared, “she is always pleasant and has a smile on her face for patients. I’ve never had to remind her of my conditions. Over my years I have seen many nurses. Many were good, but none better than Naomi.”

“Everyone who works at Elizabethtown Community Hospital has gone over and above, especially in the past two years,” said Julie Tromblee, vice president and chief nursing officer at Elizabethtown Community Hospital as she presented Tuthill the award, a DAISY pin, and a hand-carved The Healer’s Touch sculpture during a surprise ceremony.  Tromblee acknowledged the added challenges brought on by the pandemic and thanked Tuthill for her commitment and perseverance.

 “It’s an honor to partner with the DAISY Foundation to celebrate the difference that nurses make in the lives of the patients and families they care for every day,” said. “Naomi always puts patients first and is truly deserving of this recognition. We’re lucky to have her on our team.”

In response receiving ECH’s first DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, Tutill commented, “I love what I do and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
 

ECH launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in the spring of 2021 as a way to recognize and reward licensed nurses for making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients.

The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care provided to patients and families every day. The DAISY Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. 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 (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System). 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.