Adventist Health and Rideout Recognizes November and December 2024 DAISY Award Recipients

The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary compassion and skillful care given by nurses every day. Adventist Health and Rideout is proud to be a DAISY Award partner.

DAISY Award honorees personify the remarkable Adventist Health and Rideout patient experience. These nurses consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care, and they are recognized as outstanding role models in our nursing community.

DAISY Recipient: Esteban Menendez
Department: Emergency Department
Nominated by: Co-worker, Steven O'Connell

Steven O'Connell: "I would like you to consider Esteban for a Daisy Award, and here is why:

"One night, about a month ago, very late into our shift, I walked past a room and saw Esteban with his WOW in the PT room seated next to the bed, and he was typing away. I thought to myself, ‘something must be wrong’, and as I was thinking that thought, my lead Kyle walked by. So I asked him, 'hey, what's going on in there?' And he filled me in on the details.​

"The patient was an elderly woman, who was sick, scared and suffering from anxiety. She had been medicated but her anxiety levels were elevated. Esteban was her nurse, and he asked her ‘what can I do to make you feel better?’ The patient replied, ‘will you just please hold my hand?’ Esteban pulled his WOW into the room by her side, held her hand with his left hand and quietly did his charting with his right hand.​

“As my lead walked away, I just stood there admiring what Esteban was doing to comfort his patient. ​In my time here, I have seen many great things and awesome nursing, but that night, I saw the most compassionate act in nursing that I have ever seen, and I want to recognize him for it. It has never left my mind, and in those times when I am being pushed to my limit, I think about that night, put a smile on and keep on going.”

DAISY Recipient: Michael Kaziow
Department: 3 West
Nominated by: Patient's wife

From Patient's Wife: "I would like to nominate Michael because I saw him do his job with a smile and such care to patients; not only my husband but to everyone. Even those who couldn't speak out, he was right there with a smile! I witnessed his kindness to us and our neighbor who couldn't verbally call out for help. All night I saw him come and check up on him and us, but with the biggest smile. You can tell he loves his job. Yes, every nurse provides the expected care but as a patient or patient's family member not all do it because they absolutely LOVE IT! And this young man does! If you ask me...he deserves recognition.”

DAISY Recipient: Christina Heflen
Department: Emergency Department
Nominated by: Co-worker Owen Austin, Patient's Mother - Jaspreet Dhami

Owen Austin: "Christina exemplifies the spirit of compassionate leadership through her inspiring words and unwavering commitment to her team. During a recent huddle, Christina's message resonated deeply with all present, as her poise and authority were matched only by her empathy and sincerity. She spoke with clarity and heart, reminding us of the profound impact we have on our patients and each other. Christina’s words encouraged each of us to rise to our potential and left us feeling valued and motivated. Her dedication to creating a positive, empowering environment truly makes her deserve this recognition.”

Patient's Mother: “I want to nominate Christina, RN. She is very friendly and has excellent communication skills. Christina helped me a lot during my son's ED visit. She provided me with emotional support and guidance in the emergent situation. She frequently checked on my son and me and provided us with updates like the current plan of care, transfer process, etc. Christina treated every ED patient with respect and empathy. Not only patients, but she also checked on other ED staff, nurses, and doctors to see every patient being seen quickly and effectively. Christina is very compassionate, dedicated, and empathetic. She is a good example of Teamwork and has problem-solving skills. She collaborates with her colleagues to provide excellent care to every patient. Christina went above and beyond to ensure every patient, and their family members felt comfortable and cared for. She made me feel like whenever my family or I need any help, my colleagues at Adventist Health and Rideout are there to help. She made me feel like family. Christina deserves recognition for compassionate communication and excellent leadership skills. She motivates staff with a shared vision and enthusiasm to achieve better patient outcomes and staff satisfaction.”