12/19/2016
Ansleigh Bennett received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at South Georgia Medical Center for December. The award is part of the international DAISY Foundation developed to recognize the amazing care provided by nurses every day. Bennett was nominated by a patient’s family member who said, “Ansleigh came into our room with such grace, love, and compassion. My heart overflowed with love and peace from her.
I have NEVER ever experienced this kind of love before. I could tell that this was not just a work shift for her, she loved what she does.” The nominator continued by saying it was the best experience she’d ever had in a hospital, although it should have been the worst considering her father was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Bennett has been with SGMC for one year, currently providing care on 5-West for patients with varying diagnoses including COPD, cancer, diabetes, and more.
“Receiving this award is something every nurse strives for, not just to get an award but because of what this award stands for,” said Bennett. “I am humbled and honored to be considered for such an honor. I love my job, my colleagues, and most importantly the lives that I get to impact on a daily basis. I’m forever thankful,” she said. SGMC continues to ask patients and fellow employees to honor nurses they feel go above and beyond in their care. Nominations are reviewed by a committee based on criteria that include compassion, teamwork, leadership, attitude, and skills and knowledge.
DAISY awards are presented monthly in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse” and a beautiful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. Recipients also receive a bouquet of daisies donated by local flower shops. To nominate a nurse for the DAISY award, click here. To view Bennett’s nomination in its entirety, scroll down.
“I’m not sure where to begin. I loved all of the nurses during my dad’s most recent admission. Let me share our story a little bit. My father was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. This was a complete heart-wrenching shock to us. He has been our backbone for so very long and now our life has completely changed. If we ever needed anything from anyone we could always count on my dad being there. My dad is the type of man who would give the shirt off his back if he saw you needed it more. He is loved by so many and now we have no idea what we are going to do with the thought of being without him.
Ansleigh came in one night and was our nurse for the next 12 hours. I know God sent her to us that night for this was the night we had just learned of his diagnosis. Ansleigh came into our room with such grace, love, and compassion. She could tell we (me, my dad, and my mom) were upset and had previously been crying. She asked us if there was anything she could do for us and my dad asked something that I was shocked that he would ask someone who he had never met before.
He asked Ansleigh if she would mind praying with us. Ansleigh happily sat down her things (I know she was busy and we were not her only patient but that didn’t stop her) and sat on the edge of my dad’s bed and held our hands and led a prayer with us. My heart overflowed with love and peace from her. I could immediately tell that it helped my dad’s feelings. As many times as I have been in the hospital for myself, my children, or family…
I have NEVER ever experienced this kind of love before. I could tell that this was not just a work shift for her, she loved what she does. The best part is, after her shift was over the next morning she came and told us bye and that she would see us again. The next few nights of our stay, even when she wasn’t our assigned nurse, she would pop her head in our room just to say hello and see if we needed anything. This was the very BEST experience I have had in a hospital and it shouldn’t have been.
For this was the worse news we have ever received from our doctors and yet our nurse made our days so much better. Ansleigh deserves this award. She has the heart I wish every nurse had. She was our saving grace.”