Connect

"I will never, ever forget the compassion that team members at UVA Health have shown my son over the years." 

The mother of a UVA Health patient is expressing immense gratittude for the "calm, beautiful presence" and "gentle compassion, knowledge, and tireless advocacy" of another nurse who took care of that patient at end-of-life. The mother herself also happens to be a nurse — who's been dedicated to serving UVA Health patients for 25 years.

'I Know What an Extraordinary Nurse Is'

Deborah Spencer, RN, nominated Morgan Stewart, RN, for a DAISY Award. UVA Health University Medical Center Associate Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Brill, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, and Jenny Ernest, Nursing Governance Coordinator, Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO), surprised Stewart at 3 Central. Tears flowed all around as the nomination was shared:

"I want to nominate Morgan for the extraordinary and compassionate care she provided to my son as he died after a heroic and lifetime battle with cystic fibrosis. This nomination has been a long time coming. I have been devastated by grief from the loss of my child and it has been hard for me to come back and write this nomination — revisiting the months, weeks, days, minutes, and moments leading up to his death on 3 Central with Morgan being the angel by his side.

"I myself have been an inpatient nurse at UVA Health for more than 25 years. I have been working in the NICU for the past 20 years. Believe me when I say I know what an extraordinary nurse is.

'Go in Peace'

"Morgan was grace under fire. Her calm, beautiful presence soothed my son, who knew he was in good hands and always visibly relieved when Morgan walked into the room, announcing she would be his nurse for the day. I was impressed by Morgan’s gentle compassion, knowledge, and her tireless advocacy for my son, who needed so much pain control and tender care to keep comfortable at the end of life.

"My son had made a decision to forgo medical intervention, and wanted comfort care only. There would be no lung transplant, no intubation, no BiPAP [bilevel positive airway pressure — a non-invasive ventilation device that helps with breathing difficulties], and no transfer to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) for a 'last hurrah.' My child wanted to go in peace and wanted to die at home. We made arrangements with hospice for all the necessary equipment to bring him home to die; however, the day before ... a turn for the worse ... too unstable for the short transport to our house.

"My child would have to die in the hospital, which was often like a second home. As much as he disliked being in the hospital, once feeling better, he often would enjoy the social aspect of interacting with team members, most of whom were his age.

'Praying for You'

"I will never, ever forget the compassion that team members at UVA Health have shown my son over the years. Housekeepers, dietary staff, as well as nurses, repiratory therapists, residents, and attendings have shown kindness and compassion throughout my son's life. It has meant so much to me. I will never forget the day, years ago, as I sat in the hospital room, a dietary aide delivered a meal tray ... and said, 'I see that you’re in here often — I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but I want you to know I am praying for you.'

"I have never forgotten that moment or this person’s kindness and love toward my son.

'Absolutely Exhausted and Devastated'

"As much as I was disappointed that my son could not die in the comfort of our home, I knew he would be well taken care of on 3 Central. On the last day ... Morgan had a brand new nurse orienting with her and had to walk them through the process of putting an in-dwelling Foley catheter into my son to relieve bladder pressure. I couldn’t believe how calmly Morgan walked this new nurse through the process of putting in a Foley catheter on a dying patient, while I — an experienced nurse — sat nearby. I was so impressed.

"Morgan not only cared for my child, she cared for me. I was absolutely exhausted and devastated. My son had been hospitalized from most of April until his death in August. Throughout those five months, my son came home from the hospital several times — only to be readmitted a week or two later. I was trying to work some in the NICU because I knew this was going to be a long process and I had already used so much FMLA [Family and Medical Leave Act]. As I sat with my child to comfort him, I remember not being able to stop crying."

DAISY Award recipients at UVA Health University Medical Center must have demonstrated at least one of these criteria:

• Go above and beyond their standard job requirements to ensure the comfort and happiness of their patients, patient families, or peers.
• Performed extraordinary acts of kindness or demonstrated extraordinary compassion.
• Made a significant, positive impact on a patient experience.
• Performed in a consistent, team-oriented, and dependable manner.
• Demonstrated extreme professionalism.
• Identified by patient and patient's family as an extraordinary caregiver.
• Clinical expertise has made a significant impact on a patient outcome.
• Delivered quality, relationship-based, nursing care consistent with our organizational goals and Professional Practice Model: Empowered Leaders, Expert Caring, Innovation, Lifelong learners and Quality achievement.

The nomination submitter found Morgan checked all the boxes. "I will never forget her compassion. It is so important to me — and to the memory of my son — to recognize Morgan as a nurse who embodies everything the DAISY Award represents."

Know a Fabulous Nurse?
"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.

Each month, the Nursing Professional Governance Organization honors up to two UVA Health University Medical Center nurses with a DAISY Award; patients or their families, visitors, and team members may submit a nomination.