Rhinelander nurse earns DAISY Award

Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital recently honored Holli Denton, RN, with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses “in recognition of her commitment and patient-centered approach to care.” The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day, according to an Aspirus press release.

 DAISY Award recipients are nurses recognized for going above and beyond patient expectations by providing service with respect, compassion, and integrity; generating enthusiasm and energy while carrying out everyday duties and responsibilities; significantly making a difference and listening not only with ears but also with heart, the release states.

Denton works in the Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and was nominated for the DAISY Award by a grateful patient. 

The nomination reads: Holli went above and beyond the call of duty and gave me a ride home. Not wanting or allowing me to walk home under the influence of anesthesia after an outpatient procedure. A true angel of mercy! Thank you.

Denton and her co-workers were treated to cinnamon rolls which honor the memory of the late Patrick Barnes who once ate his father’s cinnamon roll when he was in the hospital without an appetite for food. 

He then requested one for the next day — and enough for all the nurses in the unit. 

According to the release, the hope is that whenever a nurse smells that wonderful cinnamon aroma, they’ll stop for a minute and think of how special they are for being a nurse. Additionally, Denton received an honoree pin, certificate, a bouquet of daisies donated by Nature’s Riches, and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.

 Established in 1999, the family of J. Patrick Barnes created the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award to honor his memory with a tribute to the skillful and compassionate care he received from his nurses during his hospitalization. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, visitors and colleagues and they are chosen by a multi-disciplinary team to receive the DAISY Award.

Aspirus DAISY Award winners and nominees exceed the needs and expectations of patients and families by displaying the Aspirus core values of: Compassion, Accountability, Collaboration, Foresight and Joy, the release states.

For more information about Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital, visit aspirus.org.