Each month, Northside Hospital honors special nurses with DAISY Awards. Patients and their families, along with the nurses’ co-workers, have the chance to recognize nurses for care that makes a difference.
Here are recent winners at Northside hospitals:
Northside Hospital Atlanta
June 2024: Machaela Galiano, R.N.
What they said: “We are so grateful for the patient, compassionate care Machaela gave our mom. Since the operation took away Mom’s voice, she had to write out anything she wanted to communicate. Machaela would wait as Mom slowly wrote out questions or requests and then enthusiastically responded. She was a bright spot of joy in a stressful situation. … She was a gem!”
July 2024: Carolyn Hunter, R.N., Radiology
What they said: “Carolyn exudes professionalism from her impeccable appearance to the level of expertise she displayed during my interaction with her. I have a chronic illness, so I have experienced many medical personnel. Though most are good and deserve utmost appreciation, few rise to the level of care administered by Carolyn.”
Northside Hospital Cherokee
June 2024: Penny Sweat, R.N.
What they said: “Having breast issues is very concerning to any woman. It’s emotionally upsetting. Penny treated me with the utmost concern. She genuinely cared about me, the person, and not just the patient. She was kind, gentle and understanding of my questions. … She was so much more than a medical professional. She had a caring unmatched and invaluable. I will forever remember the lucky Penny I found that day.”
July 2024: Carolyne Weeks, R.N.
What they said: “Carolyne was so pleasant and kind from our very first meeting. It is a wonderful experience to be met with such warmth and kindness when you are at your lowest. She not only did her job efficiently, with expertise and professionalism but also made me feel that I was a priority at the moment. … Carolyne not only did the mechanics of her job but also performed her tasks with great care and concern.”
August 2024: Brandy Grueser, BSN, R.N., CBC, Special Care Nursery
What they said: A new mom nominated Grueser, saying she helped diagnose borderline postpartum depression. “Brandy completely changed my experience and feelings toward my child. I was no longer afraid to hold her or feed her, but rather I was empowered with new information and confidence. Brandy didn’t have to help me; she could have given me space to cry and just told me it was normal and would be OK, but she went above and beyond in helping me get the support I needed.”
Northside Hospital Duluth
August 2024: Laura Long, R.N., Intermediate Care Unit/Intensive Care Unit
What they said: “Recently she was faced with a challenge and she rose to it. Laura’s patient had a sudden, unexpected change in condition. She recognized the change early and proceeded to act upon it. … I watched as Laura spent hours that evening caring for her patient with compassion and concern. I watched as she carefully explained things to the patient and family. I watched her pour herself physically and emotionally into each moment. … And in the end, I watched as she grieved with the patient and family as the realization came that nothing else could be done and the patient decided to pass peacefully.”
Northside Hospital Forsyth
July 2024: Samantha Durand, R.N., Labor and Delivery
What they said: “Samantha continuously guided me with her calm, soothing voice. She was so gracious and reassuring even though my most unpleasant moments. Samantha was a stranger to me and she showed such compassion that felt as though we had been close friends for years. … Because of Samantha, I will always remember Northside Forsyth as the astounding institution that it is. This is truly her calling and I thank God for having placed such an angel in our path.”
Northside Hospital Gwinnett
July 2024: Kelly Turner, R.N., Wound, Ostomy and Continence
What they said: Turner’s manager nominated her after witnessing her work with a patient who had colon cancer and lost a necklace given to her by her daughter. “While she taught the patient about her ostomy, they talked about her daughter and the nurse was able to find out the name of the daughter’s school. After the teaching session, she made a call to the school and provided a brief, HIPAA-compliant version of what happened and found out the book fair was still going on. … A bit later, she received a text that she indeed found the same type of necklace and she would drop it off at the front desk of the hospital. … By the end of the day, this nurse was able to place the purple rose necklace in the patient’s thankful hands again.”
Learn how to nominate someone for the DAISY Award.
