07 Apr DAISY Award: Emergency Services Nurse Wade Lauritzen Honored by OMC
Emergency Services Nurse Wade Lauritzen Named DAISY Extraordinary Nurse
Daisy Award recipient Wade Lauritzen, RN, (left) and OMC Chief Nursing Officer Vickie Swanson, RN, BSN, MSN (right)
Chief Nursing Officer Vickie Swanson, RN, BSN, MSN and Aaron Possin, RN, BSN, MSN, CEN director of emergency services, recently presented Wade Lauritzen, RN, with a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®. The award, created by the DAISY Foundation, recognizes the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care provided to patients and families every day.
Lauritzen was recognized for his work as an emergency services nurse, where he provides care for patients in what is for many, a time filled with anxiety and uncertainty. According to Possin, Lauritzen comes to work each day ready to provide comfort and exceptional care. “Wade is an exceptional nurse in the emergency department. He gives his all every day to his patients, his co-workers and this organization,” said Possin. “He remains positive no matter what is going on around him. I don’t think I have ever seen Wade have a bad day.”
In response to the recognition, Lauritzen thanked everyone for creating a “culture of empathy that makes this place so special.”
The father of a patient nominated Lauritzen for the DAISY award, writing:
“My daughter has an extensive medical history for only being 6 months old. We brought her in for seizures and she wasn’t breathing right; she was limp in my arms when I brought her in. We were brought right back and met Wade in the emergency room hallway. When he said he was going to be the nurse, I handed him my daughter in a moment of complete terror for my daughter’s life. Wade calmly, and efficiently got her in the room, where he started her IV. The way Wade stayed calm and yet was able to get everything done in a timely fashion… I can NOT say enough positive things about him. In between taking care of my daughter, he was constantly making sure that I was ok as well and letting me know everything that was happening, why, what it meant, and what they were looking for. I thank God that Wade was our nurse that day!”
Olympic Medical nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him as an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin and a meaningful, hand-carved sculpture called A Healer’s Touch.
About the DAISY Foundation
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of an auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. More information can be found at DAISYfoundation.org.