Nichole "Nicky" Christian, LPN, recognized for patient advocacy was honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses^® on Thursday, January 23. Christian was nominated by a patient, grateful for her advocacy, knowledge and kindness.

Experiencing complications after surgery, the patient came to the Emergency Department in Elizabethtown before transferring to its inpatient unit where she first met Christian, “After being there for a couple of days, I was all of a sudden in excruciating pain. Nicky was the nurse that knew something was wrong. She became a huge advocate to get me help.”

Following a second surgery, the patient returned to ECH and Christian’s care for a month. She “would come into the room and would always be so cheerful. That made me feel so wonderful!  She said, ‘we will get you walking again.’  Those words resonated in my heart. Her care about me as a patient was immeasurable. I left Elizabethtown so uplifted, with Nicky’s enthusiasm cheering me on.

She went above and beyond and was instrumental in my care in my worst and best of times. She is an amazing nurse and a wonderful person to whom I am indebted.”

Chief Nursing Officer Julie Tromblee, RN, MSN said “Nicky is a tremendous advocate for the patient, serving as the patient voice and she always takes the time to listen. Her nomination is in no way a surprise to me. She’s so hard working. Not much slows her down.”

Christian joined ECH 13 years ago, spending her time in its community health centers before transitioning to the inpatient unit in 2017. Nurse manager on the inpatient unit, Kevin Manchester shared, “Nicky is an amazing nurse with a breadth of knowledge that is second to none.”

In a surprise ceremony with colleagues, Christian received a certificate commending her as an "extraordinary nurse."  The certificate reads: "In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people."  She also received a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

ECH launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2022 as a 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 hospitals’ main entrances, health centers and online at UVMHealth.org/ECHDaisy. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. A committee reviews nominations and awards the honor to a deserving nurse twice a year.

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 http://DAISYfoundation.org.