Kerri Johns, a nurse at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center, provided more than medical care for a patient. Her thoughtfulness also helped bring him joy when he needed it.
The patient’s wife periodically texted him photos of his grandchild during his hospital stay. The patient expressed sadness at not being able to see or hear the tyke.
Hearing this, Johns quickly came up with a solution. That afternoon, the patient notified his nurse that the grandbaby was at their house. Johns taught the patient how to Facetime so he could see and hear his grandbaby in real time. When his wife answered the phone, they all burst into tears.
“I really felt bad for him,” said Johns. “I knew it was really making him sad, and I thought this would really lift his spirits.”
Sheila Bennett, senior vice president and chief of patient services at Atrium Health Floyd, thanked Johns for her resourcefulness during a ceremony where she presented Johns with a DAISY Award for going above and beyond.
“This nurse’s thoughtfulness and compassion really came through,” Bennett said. “I was impressed because she clearly understood how important it is to help patients and their loved ones stay connected.”
The family of Patrick Barnes established the DAISY Foundation after Barnes died from an autoimmune disease while being treated in a Seattle hospital. DAISY stands for ‘Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem.’
Bennett presented Johns with a DAISY pin and a sculpture entitled “A Healer’s Touch.” Members of the Shona ethnic group in Zimbabwe hand-carve the sculptures.
The nurse and her teammates were also treated with cinnamon buns, a DAISY tradition because it was one of the few things Barnes could eat while he was hospitalized.
If you know an Atrium Health Floyd nurse who provided exceptional care to you or a loved one, you can nominate them for a DAISY award by visiting floyd.org/DAISY and completing the online form.
