Barbara Dean honored with DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses
Barbara Dean, BSN, RNC-NIC, CPLC, of the Christiana Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses for September 2018.
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.
The DAISY nomination came from a nurse colleague who describes Barbara Dean’s extra special care for patients and families as a member of Christiana Care’s palliative care IMPACT program (Infant, Maternal Pediatric Advanced Care Team).
The nomination said, “As part of an IMPACT consult, Barbara Dean and Dr. Bhatt met with a young woman who was 36 weeks pregnant with her first child. The infant had been diagnosed with multiple anomalies including anencephaly and Trisomy 13, with an anticipated life expectancy of minutes to hours. The care team and family discussed making each day count while pregnant, plans and expectations for the delivery, and ways to make memories after their daughter’s birth.
“Barbara helped the family locate a Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep photographer. Knowing the baby was to be named Violet, she gathered purple scrapbooking supplies and a purple bunny. She made an ornament with Violet’s footprint so her presence would be felt at every Christmas celebration. She also found volunteers to make violet-colored hats in varying sizes for the baby.
“Baby Violet lived less than two hours after her birth, but during that time she was surrounded by love and caring from her family and many others. Barb was present throughout the morning of Violet’s birth to coordinate the care and guide the family in carrying out their birth plan, creating molds of handprints and footprints, and helping the family make special memories with Violet in the short time they had together. Barb was instrumental in seamlessly synchronizing the family’s move with Violet to 3A for the remainder of their stay.
“The story of Violet represents just one of the many families that Barbara Dean has assisted over the years. She has unselfishly supported, encouraged and guided families who are facing the most difficult loss any of us can imagine.
Through her association with IMPACT, as Chair of the Maternal Child Bereavement team, and as a mentor for all of us who are fortunate to learn from her, she continues to serve those around her with love, compassion and excellence.”
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 2,500 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 — inpatient, outpatient and VNA — are eligible.
