Eagle River nurse earns DAISY Award

Aspirus Eagle River Hospital recently honored Morgan Westphal, RN, with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in recognition for 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, Eagle River Hospital 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.

Westphal was nominated by a patient she cared for in the Aspirus Eagle River Hospital Emergency Department (ED). The nomination read: “I was seen on 6/21 in the ED after falling and hitting my head. Morgan was my nurse. She is the most compassionate, caring, understanding, outstanding nurse. This kid deserves an award! She even remembered taking care of me a year ago. I can’t say enough about Morgan. She really comforted me and was truly amazing.”

Westphal 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. 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, Westphal received an honoree pin, certificate, 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.

The DAISY Award recognizes the outstanding and extraordinary care nurses provide every day, the release states.  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.