Samantha Small Accepts DAISY Award

Samantha Small, RN, recently accepted the DAISY Award for Nurses, which recognizes and honors the super-human work nurses do for patients and families every day. 

Erica Ruhland, RN, submitted the nomination and had this to say:

"I have had the opportunity to witness Sammy providing high quality patient care on a daily basis. However, there is one encounter that tugged at my heart in a special way. Sammy is a nurse that patients call out by name to recognize the care they received from her. She spends the time to allow them to open up to her and trust her as a nurse. The compassion she has is special, whether it is laughing or crying with the patients, she is always there for them. I have seen patients come back and give her the biggest hug to thank her for the care she gave them or a family member.

There was one specific day when Sammy was on the floor, we had a patient that had medical and mental health issues. The patient did not have a strong support system and was slowly giving up on life. Sammy sat in that patient’s room for hours talking to that patient getting to know her and truly making an impact on that patient’s life. Sammy told that patient the potential that she saw in her and how she was not giving up on her and that she should not give up either. That patient made more progress in that one day both mentally and physically than she had in weeks. I don’t know the outcome of how that patient is doing since they have left the hospital, but I do know one thing, Sammy made a huge impact in that patient’s life that day and that is something to truly be proud of."