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Learn why Beverly "Mira" Scheibner is deemed a treasure. "UVA Health is fortunate to have her on the team!"

A UVA Health patient is praising UVA Health's Beverly Scheibner, RN, for the excellent care she provided — now, the 3 Central nurse has earned a DAISY Award.

The Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) honors up to two UVA Health University Medical Center nurses each month with a DAISY Award. Associate Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Brill, RN, NEA-BC, and DAISY Award Committee Vice Chair Anthony Mallory, BSN, RN, CPAN, surprised Beverly Scheibner, RN, with the announcement.

"I have been a hospital patient more times than most in the last ten years — the last two of them at UVA Health for surgery. The two things I remember about those hard days are the skill of the surgeon and the kindness and efficiency of the nursing team members who helped make the unbearable — bearable.   

"To the present: Arriving at UVA Health Emergency Department (ED) by ambulance, I was wheeled by EMTs [emergency medical technicians] directly to a cubicle. ED team members eventually tagged me for admission, but the hospital was full. Understandable delay .... My next stop: 3 Central.

"Coming from ... an ED cubicle to the floor at 3 Central proved to be a shock to the senses. I thought of Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz,' exiting her house after the tornado set it down, and stepping from her drab black-and-white world into riotous colors and bustle. Sounds over the top, but that's what came to mind at the time. Just like Glinda the Good Witch of the North welcomed Dorothy, my nurse Mira Scheibner was waiting to greet me as I arrived. Later, I came to think of her as the 'Angel of 3 Central.'

"She knew I was on the way up and wanted to be there to say hello and introduced herself as soon as I got to my room. We started talking right away. After five minutes with Mira, I had no doubt she was genuinely interested in getting acquainted with her new charge and making me comfortable from the get-go.

"Mira couldn’t have been more helpful over her shift. She frequently popped in to ask if I needed anything. The few times I called the desk to ask her to stop by, it seemed she came to the door before I put the phone down. She knew my symptoms and gave me valuable advice about dealing with them.   She covered all the information I needed to know: dining, sleeping, taking medicines, using the restroom, schedules, the room’s other facilities — whatever she could think of to make me feel like a guest in her home. And always with smiles and humor!

"Mira shared with me a story about her father, tying it in to something in my history. What a demonstration of trust and confirmation that she was not just going through the motions. I thought, how many times has she done this and here she is doing it again with me as if it’s the first time? Remarkable!

"And so personable! At various times during the shift, Mira told me why she loves her job (helping people get through difficult times) and her colleagues. She made a point of asking me questions about what brought me in, my younger days, family, interests, activities. so forth. She wasn’t being nosy — I was in her care and the more she learned about me, the likelier she could find ways to make my stay worthwhile. An excellent listener!

"I learned over the course of the day how respected Mira is on 3 Central. No surprise! Suspecting I might be discharged before her next shift (which happened), I told her I‘d write something up about her. At the shift change, she laughingly warned her replacement, Carolina, not to dislodge Mira from the top spot on my list by being even nicer to me than Mira was. Carolina came close!

"Mira is a treasure! UVA Health is fortunate to have her on the team!"

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"DAISY" stands for "Diseases Attacking the Immune System." The DAISY Award was established by The DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of only 33 of an autoimmune disease. The Barnes Family was awestruck by the clinical skills, caring, and compassion of his nurses — so they created this national award to thank nurses everywhere.

At UVA Health University Medical Center — patients or their families, visitors, and team members may submit a DAISY Award nomination.