Howard Young Medical Center Nurse Earns DAISY Award

Howard Young Medical Center (HYMC), part of Aspirus, recently honored Sarah Martin, 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.

Howard Young Medical Center 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.

Martin works in the HYMC Intensive Care Unit and was nominated for the DAISY Award by a community member. The nomination reads: My entire family is forever grateful for Sarah's immediate and selfless response that we credit with saving my mom's life. My mom was out to dinner for her birthday, and as she got up to leave collapsed with what sounds like sudden cardiac arrest. I understand that Sarah, also a diner at the restaurant, immediately rushed over and initiated CPR. That fast response is so critical with CPR, so we credit that with saving our mom. I was lucky enough to meet Sarah when she visited my mom in the ICU while she was next working. Thank you, Sarah, for giving my mom the best birthday gift EVER and for not hesitating to use your skill and knowledge outside of the hospital too!

Martin 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, Martin 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 Howard Young Medical Center, please visit aspirus.org.