Franciscan Health awards three DAISY Awards during Nurses Week

Three Franciscan Health Olympia Fields Hospital nurses were awarded DAISY Awards for their extraordinary nursing care and for the compassion they exhibit to patients and families as a part of the hospital’s annual Nurses Week celebration.

The multi-disciplinary team of DAISY recipients include, Lorraine Lawson, RN, of the 2900 Patient Observation Medical/Surgical/Oncology Unit; Jeff Servita, RN, a Franciscan Traveling Nurse assigned to the 2300 Unit; and Tonya Urban, RN, a Palliative Care nurse.

Lorraine Lawson, a New Lenox resident in nursing for seven years, was nominated by a grateful patient who was impressed by her method of communication, and suggested she train future nurses.

“Lorraine is genuinely caring, and she is very polite,” that patient said. “She explains every medication to you before she gives them. Whenever you ask Lorraine any questions, she pages the doctor to get the correct answer. She genuinely cared about me as a patient, and is polite, caring and compassionate.”

Jeff Servita’s former patient is grateful for the Alsip resident’s caring and loving spirit.

“The second Jeff came in my hospital room to introduce himself I knew from that point on the day was going to be a good day,” that patient said of the 10-year RN. “Anytime he came into my room no matter if he was called or not, he made sure to ask if there was anything else I needed. No matter if I hit the call light a million times, back-to-back, the man came in smiling ready to do any assignment or task. Thank you for making my gloomy day sunny. I was very pleased to have you as my nurse. You are amazing times 10!”

Chicago Heights resident Tonya Urban has been nursing for 22 years. Formerly in ICU, and now a Palliative Care department nurse, Tonya was nominated by her department manager who shared the story of a former patient who returned to the ER to recall the care she received from Tonya.

“Tonya was in constant contact with me, and my family, providing support and education, but most importantly listening,” that patient said. “Tonya spent hours at my bedside listening to my concerns. She advocated for me and made sure the physicians were aware of my care goals. Tonya was a gift to us after I transitioned from the ICU to Palliative Care. She is not only kind and empathetic but creates a safe space for patients and families to make difficult decisions.”

The DAISY award was established by the DAISY Foundation to recognize the extraordinary work of nurses worldwide. Franciscan Health Olympia Fields Chief Nursing Officer, Mari Lynn Ross, presented these deserving nurses with official certificates from the DAISY Foundation.

“On behalf of us at Franciscan Health, I want to say a personal thank you to all of you for choosing nursing as a career and for the skill, care, and compassion you give to our patients and families every day, thank you and congratulations,” Ross said.

As part of this recognition, All DAISY winning nurses received a DAISY Award pin, the Healer's Touch sculpture, a DAISY Award certificate, and a box of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls to share with coworkers. Funding for the DAISY Award is provided by the Franciscan Health Foundation.

About the DAISY Award

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is an internationally recognized honor that was established in 1999 via the DAISY Foundation members of the family of Patrick Barnes. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. Patrick Barnes was a 33-year-old husband and father of an infant daughter who died eight weeks after being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease idiopathic thrombocytopenia. The award was established to honor what his family perceived to be extraordinary kindness and compassion by the nurses caring for him during his illness. Cinnabon’s are given to the winners because when Patrick was too ill to have an appetite, at one point he was able to eat a Cinnabon his father had brought, and Patrick requested that Cinnabon’s be brought in the next day for not just him, but for the nurses as a thank you for their care. More information about the DAISY award can be found at https://www.daisyfoundation.org.