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Sydney Guckert, Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical ICU, was recently nominated for a BEE Award, which is an acronym for "Being Excellent Every day." UVA Health launched this program last year as special program to recognize excellence among the clinical support team members who work alongside our nursing teams delivering expert, compassionate care. This award program symbolizes the relationship between nursing and other members of the care team — the same way bees and flowers depend on one another. 

Sydney was nominated by a UVA Health team member, which you can read below. 

"Sydney is an amazing new team member. One way that she is above and beyond is in the individualized attention she gives her patients. She treats all people as humans and individuals and goes the extra mile to provide care. 

"The best example of her excellent care was in the month of December. There was a patient who spoke a foreign language that no one could figure out what the obviously distraught man — who was crying — wanted or needed because of the language barrier. She took it upon herself to go to the computer and learn a few key words in the language he spoke then speaking one word at a time to the sick gentleman realized he was saying he felt hot and had a fever. She was able to say a few other words of comfort to him and he held her hand and kissed it and just held it for a long time as though he was finally heard and appreciative of the kindness she showed. This kind of humanity is exactly what all caregivers should strive to achieve. I hope that all of us will take her lead and treat each person with dignity and as individuals and not just as another patient number."

*Nomination edited for privacy and clarity.

Know a deserving team member?

The Nursing Professional Governance Organization honors up to two UVA clinical support team members each month with a BEE Award. Learn more.