Connect

"She answered questions with kindness and grace — and gave us all the time we needed."

A UVA Health University Medical Center nurse is being honored for taking extraordinary care of a patient and his family, which includes another nurse.

And now, Kaylee Chrisman, BSN, RN, has earned a DAISY Award for going above and beyond.

It's the patient's family member — the other nurse — who took the time to write and submit this emotional nomination of Chrisman for the award:

"Our loved one suffered a sudden and shocking event and was rushed into the Emergency Department (ED) as a trauma before being transferred to 4 West. He was cared for in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) by Kaylee. He was in critical condition, and the entire ED and MICU teams did a wonderful job caring for him — Kaylee stood out with especially compassionate caring.

"Twenty-nine family members and friends prayed in the waiting room for him. I know it can't be easy caring for a critically ill patient while visitors are constantly coming in and out and asking questions, but Kaylee was an empathetic presence and didn't make any of us feel like we were in the way or inconveniencing her workflow. She answered questions with kindness and grace —and gave us all the time we needed to be with him.

"A relative was scared by all the lines and tubes. Kaylee encouraged the relative to touch his hand, and say good night and I love you, which was the relative's last chance to do so before he passed early the next morning.

"As a fellow nurse, I'm also incredibly impressed with Kaylee's level of care in the MICU. She's truly an expert in her patient — confident and competent with a critically ill patient running multiple pressors, sedation, and requiring significant frequent interventions.

"Losing a patient is terrible and leaves a mark on us as healthcare providers every time. I want to acknowledge the challenging night Kaylee must have had. We appreciate her immensely, are grateful, and know she will continue to provide incredible care to other patients in the MICU.

"Kaylee, thank you from our entire family for caring for him in his final night earthside."

Surprise Presentation

Associate Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Brill, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, and Jenny Ernest, Nursing Governance Coordinator, Nursing Professional Governance Office, surprised Chrisman with the honor.

Know a Fabulous Nurse?

Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO), which honors honors up to two UVA Health University Medical Center nurses each month with a DAISY Award.

"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.