Jessica Jeffrey, RN Honored with DAISY Award
ECH program celebrates extraordinary nurses
Joining Elizabethtown Community Hospital in May 2023, Jessica Jeffrey, RN quickly bonded with her colleagues on the night shift. Her supportive and caring nature extends to every one of her patients. That is why Jessica is ECH’s newest recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®.
Jessica was nominated by one of her patients who wrote how she went above and beyond to provide help and a calming presence when an issue arose during the night. “She was so great talking to me and keeping me calm while the Emergency Room doctor came down. She talked to me to keep my mind off the pain. She took time to explain it all to me and what the next steps would be. She truly relieved my nerves.”
Nurse Manager Kevin Manchester BSN, RN said, “What sets Jessica apart is not just her skill as a nurse, but her ability to connect with her patients on a personal level. She is always grounded and has a calm, quieting influence on staff and patients on the night shift.”
During a surprise ceremony on the inpatient care unit, Jessica was presented with a certificate commending her as an extraordinary nurse. She, like all honorees, also received a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.
Her grateful patient also shared, “She is an amazing nurse. You are very lucky to have her.”
About The DAISY Award
Elizabethtown Community Hospital launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in early 2018 as way to recognize and reward licensed nurses for making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients. Nomination forms and boxes are located at each of the hospital’s main entrances and online. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. A committee reviews nominations and twice a year, awards the honor to a deserving nurse.
The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide 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. More information is available at DAISYfoundation.org.