Earlier this week, Christine Williams, Chief Nursing Executive, presented Ameeraloraine Macam, RN, BSN, on Tower 4, with a DAISY Award for the compassionate care she continually gives to her patients.
Ameeraloraine Macam, RN, BSN, on Tower 4, receives a DAISY Award
The DAISY Award is part of The DAISY Foundation, an international program dedicated to recognizing nursing excellence. Established by the Barnes family in memory of their son, Patrick, the award honors the exceptional, compassionate care Patrick received from nurses during his eight-week hospitalization. To express their gratitude, the family created the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, celebrating the remarkable and often unsung work nurses perform every day at the bedside.
From the nomination:
“On behalf of the Tower 4 leadership team, we would like to formally nominate Ameeraloraine Macam for a DAISY Award. We have noticed how Ameera has a natural connection with patients and an ability to be aware when our patients are emotionally hurting or needing more TLC which leaves them with a feeling that they have been emotionally held. Ameera has shown on multiple occasions on how to connect with her patients and their needs.
“We recently had admitted a patient with depressive symptoms, and she didn’t feel like she had a purpose in life. Ameera, who was the nurse of the patient’s roommate, approached the patient and started building a special connection that isn’t often developed by a nurse who isn’t directly caring for the patient. Ameera had brought in a poem she had written at a young age in her life to be read together with the patient.Ameera didn’t get a chance to read the poem that day, but the patient held that poem at bedside in a secret spot until Ameera was back at work to read it to the patient. The patient wanted to hear Ameera read her own poem. The next day when Ameera returned to work, she sat at bedside reading her personal poem and listened in exchange to the patient’s poems. She brought light back to this patient, which allowed her the ability to see a purpose to continue with poetry and art as a way to express her happiness. The patient expressed that Ameera has true compassion, is the most genuine honest soul and forever grateful that God brought her to reconnect with herself. This shed light for the patient that purpose to live was her artwork and poetry that they both bonded with.
“On another occasion, she once cared for a patient who was involved in a motor vehicle accident, had multiple fractures, and required long term antibiotics. To make matters worse, the patient recently lost her mother, and her funeral was scheduled during the patient’s stay in the hospital. The patient was given a day pass to leave the hospital so she could attend the funeral. On the day of the funeral, Ameera attuned to the basic needs of her patient by giving her a spa day prior to leaving the unit. Ameera spent time shampooing, detangling, and braiding the patient’s hair so she would look more presentable at her mother’s funeral. Though her patient had a long road of physical and emotional healing ahead of her, she appreciated the time Ameera spent to help her in her immediate time of need.
“Though patients are admitted due to varying diagnoses that require certain plan of cares, Ameera recognizes the need to attend to what the patient feels is the priority.These changing priorities can range from emotional connection or physical care.Daily, Ameera steps in to authentically connect with her patients. And for this, she is so deserving of a DAISY Award.”
