Becky Bruch, RN of Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics was recently honored for the second time, with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.
A nomination was submitted by Brett Pietig, Director of Pharmacy at ACMH and Marlan Miller. Pietig’s nomination story began “I have had the privilege of working closely with Becky for the entirety of my time at ACMH. She exemplifies everything that a multiple time Daisy Award winner should. She works tirelessly to make sure that patient’s quality of care is the number one priority. Becky is often heard saying ‘I just want to take care of the patient.’ As my professional relationship grew with Becky, I began to understand how passionate she was about ‘just taking care of the patient.’
Becky’s most intimate interactions often happen with our oncology patients. I have witnessed Becky being everything for the patient. One day she may be getting new prescriptions sent to the pharmacy to manage side effects, or she may be a shoulder to cry on for both the bad times and the good times that go with cancer. Other times, she is calling and fighting an insurance company to make sure the medication, or exam is covered. Quite simply, she does it all for her patients with a positive, forward-looking attitude that cannot be overlooked. There are numerous patient interactions that make Becky a deserving winner of this award, however there is one that sticks out.”
Pietig continues to recount an example of Bruch’s excellence in patient care. The following example highlights that patients aren’t the only individuals who are supported by nurses. Through taking a keen interest in patients, their family members’ burdens are eased as shown through the following testimonial from Marlan Miller.
“Becky is a remarkable young woman. She was there through all of Carla’s fears, questions, pain and orneriness. Taking time to explain each treatment even if it meant delaying start time. She took time to know and understand her and really care. In return Carla respected, responded to and loved her as a friend. Carla had reactions to the drugs that people before her had never had. She would take her own time to look up anything that might relate to it. They talked of family, home projects and life. There was a connection, a bond between them. Even when Carla decided no more treatments, Becky was there, with a short call and message. Before hospice started and Carla was in emergency room, Becky would come at Carla’s request and access her port. Always kind and respectful and a smile. Thank you for everything. Thank you for being there for us both.”
Brett Pietig closes his remarks by saying, “Becky continues to make a lasting, positive, impact on the quality of care for both patients and families alike. She truly deserves to be a multi-time Daisy Award winner!”
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. 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. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was inspired by this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
Said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, Doctor of Humane Letters (h.c) and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
For a complete listing of healthcare organizations currently running the program, please go to http://DAISYfoundation.org.In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 5,500 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of Nurse-led Teams, Nurse Leaders, Nurses Advancing Health Equity, Nursing Faculty, Nursing Students, Lifetime Achievement in Nursing and through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, Medical Mission Grants and their new Health Equity Grant programs. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.
