PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Sara Eklund, RN, a nurse in Northern Light AR Gould Hospital’s Emergency Department, was recently recognized for her outstanding patient care by being presented with a DAISY Award.
Eklund was nominated by a patient who was in her care during a trip to the emergency room.
“From the moment I arrived, her kind and compassionate demeanor put me at ease. She was not only informative about my situation, but she respected my feelings and treated me with dignity throughout the entire visit,” explained the patient in her nomination.
The patient noted that she was a little worried about getting care in a place where everyone knows each other; however, that ended up being a needless concern.
“My nurse made me feel heard and assured me that my care was of the utmost importance. She did not make me feel judged in any way, and I am grateful for the level of professionalism she displayed,” said the patient. “I truly believe that she is a shining example of what it means to be a dedicated and empathetic healthcare professional.”
That sentiment is echoed by Eklund’s manager, Heather Pelletier.
“Sara has a passion for patient care and is always working to get to yes with her patients. It came as no shock to me that she received this award as her courteous smile and positive demeanor really shines through,” said Pelletier.
Excellence and a passion for nursing seems to run in Eklund’s family. Her brother, Adam Huston, is a nurse in the hospital’s medical/surgical unit, and he is a past recipient of the DAISY Award. Eklund’s husband Andrew is a nurse the hospital’s Emergency Department, and she has other family members who are nurses who work outside of the hospital.
During a surprise celebration, Eklund was presented a daisy pin, a sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch” hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa, and a certificate commending her for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.”
The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day. It was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died in 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, an auto-immune disease. The care he and his family received from nurses inspired this means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
AR Gould Hospital periodically recognizes one of its nurses with the DAISY Award. These nurses are nominated by patients, family members of patients, co-workers, or community members for the outstanding care and compassion they provide.
For those who would like to nominate a nurse for consideration for a DAISY Award, nominations can be made online, please visit www.northernlighthealth.org/Our-System/AR-Gould-Hospital/About-Us/Daisy-Award.
