While they left with awards and cinnamon mini-doughnuts in hand, the Schneck Medical Center employees were the same people they were before the ceremony.
As they do on a daily basis, they were ready to head back to work and provide the same care to patients that they always have.
The nine women appreciated being nominated and chosen for a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses or a BEE Award for non-nursing team members and are now even more motivated on the job. The awards recognize the extraordinary, compassionate care provided to patients and families every day at the Seymour hospital.
Staff, families and patients submitted numerous stories speaking to the excellent care provided at Schneck. The award committees then reviewed the blinded nominations to determine the recipients.
The DAISY Award recipients are Michelle McCool, endoscopy; Denise Shoemaker, surgery; Donna Foster, hospitalist group; and Kandi Bollinger, preoperative services. The DAISY Leadership Award was presented to Rachel Stangland, operating room and clinical education manager.
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. He died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a little known but not uncommon autoimmune disease. DAISY stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.
The care Barnes received while he was ill inspired the award as a unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. The cinnamon doughnuts were offered at Schneck’s ceremony because when Barnes was in the hospital, he had his father buy cinnamon rolls for him and all of the nurses as a token of appreciation for the care they provided.
The BEE Award recipients are Gina Gardner, preoperative services; Misty Ruddick, integrative medicine; Jean Feller, environmental services; and Bailey Bonebright, patient services.
The Be Extraordinary Every Day Award was developed at Schneck to honor and recognize the care team that supports nursing staff and works closely with them to provide patients and families with the compassion and care they need.
“Our nurses and non-nursing team members are heroes every day,” said Amy Pettit, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer. “It’s important that our team members know their work is highly valued, and the DAISY and BEE awards provide a way for us to recognize their efforts.”
DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses
Pettit said 27 nominations were submitted for the DAISY Award with several nurses receiving more than one.
Bollinger was nominated by a woman whose 72-year-old mother came in for a spinal injection. When she learned the woman had to be revived during a previous procedure, she went above and beyond to find out what happened and what caused it to ensure it didn’t happen again and then explained the options and benefits versus risks.
“My father has had seven heart attacks over the years and I have had one, as well. My mother has had several procedures also,” the daughter wrote. “I’m just saying this to point out that we have dealt with our fair share of different doctors and nurses over the years, and Kandi was absolutely the most kind, patient, knowledgeable and truly vested caring professional that we have ever dealt with.”
Bollinger, who has worked at Schneck for 11 years, said those comments mean a lot to her.
“To hear that you did something over and beyond their expectations, it means a lot and it makes you want to do better for each,” she said. “Mine mostly are pain patients, so they are in pain more times than not, so if you can just make them smile or give them just 20 minutes extra of your time to make their day a little brighter, that’s my goal.”
Shoemaker, a Schneck employee for 30-plus years who’s staff nurse in the operating room, received several nominations.
She spent time at work at home preparing the OR for Magnet meetings. The prestigious designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center recognizes organizations that provide the highest quality of care.
Shoemaker also was recognized for going above and beyond with a patient who was nervous and crying. After finding out the patient’s favorite song, Shoemaker called anesthesia to ensure it was playing when she entered the room, which made her feel better.
Shoemaker also oriented a new unit staff member and was a calming presence when a new mother who delivered a stillborn baby was brought to the OR for emergency surgery.
“Humbled, honored,” Shoemaker said of the award. “You try to bring your A game every day, and everyone else does, too, so I feel like there are a lot of people in the OR that do what I do. I don’t know that I feel special because I’m just another one doing the best I can. It’s nice to be appreciated by your peers.”
Foster, who has worked for Schneck since 1992 and has been a nurse practitioner since 2007, was recognized for reading Scripture to a 97-year-old patient who was having difficulty breathing. Psalm 96 instantly relaxed the woman, and she was so grateful for the gesture.
“I consider it an honor and privilege to take care of patients,” Foster said. “I certainly didn’t do that thinking of any kind of award. I don’t consider it awardworthy. That’s just being normal. I love what I do, and I love working here. I think we have a good culture, and it promotes being able to be real.”
McCool, who worked at Schneck for 12 years, left to work in management at another hospital and then returned three years ago, received four nominations.
She has been instrumental in ensuring Schneck can accommodate COVID-19 patients who need monoclonal antibody therapy, including recently when several patients were in need of the infusions.
“During that busy day, we received the order for two additional patients, and she was diligent to get them in, and she led the team caring for those patients that day with ease,” one of the nominations reads. “There was a lot of speculation around the idea of getting that many patients in and out, but she pressed forward and made it happen.”
McCool also took over the role of educator for the ambulatory department and ensures students feel included and comfortable with asking questions, and she facilitates the nurse residency program.
“I’m just very humbled because when I do it, I was doing it because it needed to be done,” McCool said. “I’m just very humbled and honored to be a part of a great organization.”
Stangland, who has been with Schneck for nearly 10 years, received a nomination based on her educator role, helping a student learn nursing concepts and theories, and another one was for helping co-workers succeed as they were pulled from their jobs to assist in other areas due to the pandemic.
The latter came while she was preparing for a Magnet site visit. Her work ultimately helped Schneck receive its fourth Magnet designation.
“I’m humbled and honored, really,” she said. “Leadership is my passion. I care a lot for my people, too, so to hear that I’m actually successful in having them see that and making that shine through, that’s really important to me. That’s why I get out of bed every day.”
BEE Award
There were 21 nominations submitted for the BEE Award.
Feller was nominated by the emergency department team. The pandemic resulted in more cleaning protocols and multiple rooms that are “COVID dirty” and require additional cleaning. The team said Feller has been willing to help the nurses and patients, even performing tasks that typically aren’t her responsibility.
Ruddick is a medical assistant but helps with front desk duties when needed and also is the site manager for the supplement store.
Recently, she went above and beyond helping a person from out of town who wasn’t a clinic patient but was at Schneck with COVID.
“She was a very high-risk patient and during follow-up at the office mentioned Misty by name, saying words of thanks to the point of almost becoming tearful for being called and checked on while she was sick at home and then in the hospital,” the nomination reads.
Gardner was noted for helping other units when asked and showing tenderness to a 93-year-old woman who was left alone by the care facility that brought her to have surgery.
“She is one of the best support staff that I have worked with in my 30-year career,” the nomination reads. “Every day, she greets patients with a smile, a warm welcome and a warm blanket. She will do anything she can to make the patient experience exceptional while helping to support the nursing staff, making their jobs easier.”
Bonebright encountered a family that couldn’t bear the sight of watching a relative with COVID-19 take their last breath. She was respectful of their tough decision and took it upon herself to sit with the patient so they weren’t alone.
“I was so impressed with her display of integrity to the patient’s family, the commitment of honoring her patient during their final hours and truly focus of serving her patient’s needs,” the nomination reads. “She definitely showed the level of excellence we strive for at Schneck Medical Center, and I am proud to work with her and so thankful for her caring and compassionate heart.”
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Schneck Medical Center awards for 2021
DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses
Michelle McCool, endoscopy; Denise Shoemaker, surgery; Donna Foster, hospitalist group; and Kandi Bollinger, preoperative services
DAISY Leadership Award
Rachel Stangland, operating room and clinical education manager
BEE Award
Gina Gardner, preoperative services; Misty Ruddick, integrative medicine; Jean Feller, environmental services; and Bailey Bonebright, patient services
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