HomePress RoomAspirus Rhinelander Hospital Nurse Earns DAISY Award

Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital Nurse Earns DAISY Award

  • Published: 11/3/2025

Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital recently honored Kelcie LaChapelle, 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.

Aspirus Rhinelander 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.

LaChapelle works in the Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital - Birthing Center and was nominated for the DAISY Award by a grateful patient. The nomination reads: I would like to recommend my nurse Kelcie who works in Labor and Delivery for this award. I had recently moved from California to Wisconsin in January of this year. In the process of moving an unexpected pregnancy showed up lol. To say there was a culture change with our move goes without saying but in March I developed sepsis and was admitted to your hospital. Being new to the community and with my husband tending to our three other children I was alone and at times scared. That is where Kelcie stepped in. Not only was she incredibly kind but she took an interest in my story and made me feel safe. I felt like I was getting the best care. She engaged in conversation about my hobbies and asked me to show her my cross-stitching project, which was a stocking I had started. She would check on my progress throughout my stay and through our conversations I began to feel part of this community. She explained every medication and procedure to me in a way that I could understand and made me feel at ease with my treatment. Fast forward to July 30 when I went into labor with our unexpected bundle of joy. Kelcie was our nurse! She remembered me from the previous stay and instantly made me feel comfortable. She asked how my stocking was coming along, and I was able to show a picture of the finished product! She again was there every step of the way explaining what was happening and giving me choices at each step. Not only did she take care of me, but she made my husband and mom feel extremely confident that I was in good hands. She recognized my sense of humor and communication style and adapted my care to totally meet my needs. Not only was she compassionate and an excellent communicator, but she is a pro at what she does. My mom happens to be a nurse of over 40 years and was impressed with her professionalism and at the same time, her personal touches to my care that included the whole family. Our baby was born a couple hours after her shift ended but the night nurse told me that Kelcie had checked in to see how I had done and if a baby had arrived yet. Alot of nurses do their job because that is their job, but it was abundantly clear that with Kelcie, it is a calling. She will be remembered as our baby grows and also for making me feel part of my new community.

LaChapelle 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, LaChapelle 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. 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.

For more information about the Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital - Birthing Center, please visit aspirus.org.