Christiana Hospital’s Julie Mullins, RN II, received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses for May.

Christiana Care DAISY Award recipients are nurses recognized for meeting and exceeding the needs and expectations of patients and families by displaying exceptional clinical skills, compassion, respect and partnership.

This DAISY nomination came from a daughter who tells us how Mullins’ attention and personalized care during her mother’s stay on patient care unit 5C brought comfort to mother and daughter alike.

“Julie was the first nurse to really hear what we were trying to accomplish with my mother’s care as a patient with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Cheryl Rouault. “The lack of sleep my mother was experiencing made it difficult for her to focus and communicate. When she was kept in bed for two days to treat blood clots and a UTI, her walking and toileting skills began to slip away.

“Julie paid close attention, anticipated my mother’s needs and took action. She was flexible but respectful of hospital policy in balancing care protocols with my mother’s personal needs. Julie helped order a commode to be used first thing in the morning. She helped assess Mom’s walking and toileting. She changed my mother’s bed position to prevent skin breakdown. She took the initiative to blend the magnesium into prune juice so it was received with a smile and taken within five minutes, instead of 15. When the clock in the room wasn’t working, Julie took the clock off the wall and replaced the batteries.

“All these steps may seem like obvious little tasks. However, from a daughter and caretaker’s perspective, they mean a lot. Julie’s faithful care, kind words of encouragement, patience and loving spirit in caring for a woman with Alzheimer’s are priceless.

“Julie deserves the DAISY Award because she continually goes above and beyond in the care for her patients and families and turns them to friends that respect, love and appreciate all she does on an hourly basis.

“My mother would say, ‘You are beautiful.’ That’s my mother’s way of communicating ‘You are greatly appreciated, and I see your loving care. Thank you, Julie.’”

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. Today, more than 2,000 health care facilities in every state and 15 countries honor nurses with the DAISY Award.

The Professional Nurse Council at Christiana Care selects DAISY Award recipients using a blind selection process based on nominations from patients, families and all members of the Christiana Care team. All nurses are eligible.

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