Published: February 21, 2024
LANSING, MI – E.W. Sparrow Hospital recently recognized three highly skilled nurses with the DAISY Award, celebrating the compassionate and super-human work they perform for those who cannot care for themselves.
Sparrow Emergency Department Nurse Jordan Neill, BSN, RN, received a DAISY Award after being nominated by his peers for going above and beyond to help a patient who had been unable to brush her own hair for months. Jordan traveled to the patient’s bedside in the neuro-trauma ICU and gave her a much-needed haircut.
“He treated her like she was at the salon,” said Sparrow Nurse Olivia Geers. “He gave her the perfect pixie cut and brought so much light into the patient’s eyes that l am certain no other person at the hospital could have done.”
Sparrow DAISY Award winners (from left) Kimberly Fleming, Jordan Neill, Devin Hopkins pose with their awards.
Kimberly Fleming, BSN, RN, who works on the hospital’s surgical specialties unit, was honored for demonstrating the true meaning of compassion: listening to her patients, taking action to help, and advocating for their needs. She recently went above and beyond to treat an 84-year-old patient with dementia with kindness and dignity.
“As my mom's dementia has gotten worse - I have witnessed people discard her, ignore her and act like she isn’t a worthwhile person,” the patient’s daughter said. “Kimmy was so kind and treated my mom with respect - she talked directly to her and there was no judgement, only help, when my mom (and l) most needed it.”
Sparrow Emergency Department Nurse Devin Hopkins, RN, was named DAISY Award honoree for taking extra time to listen to the concerns of a patient’s family. She even helped them brainstorm how to best continue caring for her at home with Sparrow’s palliative care team.
“Devin showed patience and respect with my mom who has difficulty with speech,” the nomination said. “Because she listened, Devin was able to ask for my mom's opinions on things and take her wishes into consideration.”
The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary, compassionate, and skillful care given by nurses every day.
“As a nurse we have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of our patients,” said Kathy Marble, E.W. Sparrow Hospital’s chief nursing officer. “By providing outstanding support, care and compassion, our nurses have now built trust and lifelong relationships.”
All three nurses received a certificate of recognition, a DAISY pin to wear at work, and beautiful serpentine stone sculpture carved by the artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. The special “Healer’s Touch” sculpture, designed for leaders, depicts the relationship nursing managers have with their caregivers and embraces the relationship nurses have with their patients.
Nurses and nursing leaders are nominated for the award throughout the year by patients and patients’ families.
To learn more about the DAISY Award, go to Sparrow.org/DAISY.
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Sparrow is Mid-Michigan’s premier healthcare organization and includes hospitals in Lansing, Carson City, Charlotte, Ionia and St. John, as well as Sparrow Specialty Hospital, Sparrow Care Network, Sparrow Medical Group, the Michigan Athletic Club, and AL!VE. Sparrow is part of University of Michigan Health. Through the dedication of our 10,000 caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and patient experience. For more information, visit Sparrow.org.