Jessica Williford, RN Recognized with International Daisy Nurse Award

Carteret Health Care is pleased to announce that Jessica Williford, RN in Medical Surgical is the first nurse to be recognized with The Daisy Award at Carteret Health Care. The Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses is an international award which is part of the DAISY Foundation's mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.

Hospital leaders and peers recently surprised Ms. Williford during her shift. Members of her family as well as members of the nominating family were present to be part of the surprise and to celebrate with her.

Ms. Williford who joined the Carteret Health team as a new graduate nurse in 2016 and successfully completed the Nurse Residency program at Carteret, humbly thanked all attendees.

As the smell of cinnamon rolls filled the air, Katie Dixon, RN, and Stacey Abramski, RN shared information about the Daisy Award and recognized Ms. Williford’s efforts by having the nomination read. “You know a nurse is special when you hate to see her shift end and can’t wait for the next morning when she returns. Compassionate and skillful does not begin to describe this nurse.”

“I stood witness to Ms. Williford who cared for the elderly as if they were a member of her own family. She listened even though the same story was told to her ten times, she acted as if it was the first time she heard it. She explained medications and patient care in a way that most anyone could understand even if you had never stepped foot in a hospital. She was a gentle, kind soul even when watching a patient in so much pain. She told stories to distract them and spent time comforting before she left the room. Time didn’t matter to this nurse. Care and healing did! These examples did not just happen in the room as I sat with my mother. I witnessed this from her as I walked up and down the hallway I could hear her in other patient’s room as she treated them just like she did my mother.”

The nomination also stated that through difficult times, she kept her composure. She passed out smiles, shared her concerns and showed empathy to all patients she encountered as if it was the first time she walked in the room. I was lucky she cared for my mother. But most importantly, so were many other CHC patients who had her as their nurse.”

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 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon 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.

Carteret nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at Carteret Health Care to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the Honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors.

Ms. Williford received a certificate commending her as an "Extraordinary Nurse," a bouquet of daisies, a DAISY Award pin and a meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. Cinnamon rolls were shared as a traditional part of the Daily Foundation. A banner will also be displayed in Ms. Williford’s work area.

“Nurses are heroes every day,” stated Pat Ausband, Vice President Patient Care Services, “It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and we are honored that we can recognize Ms. Williford with the very first Daisy Award here at Carteret Health.”