DAISY Award
Congratulations to Karen Bott
Karen Bott, RN, BSN
Davis 10 PICU/PCICU
A couple years ago, Karen was a primary nurse for a young man with liver cancer. His high ammonia levels when he first was admitted made him sometimes "difficult" to care for. Karen always treated him with dignity and respect and formed a bond with him and his family and his girlfriend over the years when he would get re-admitted to the PICU. He eventually married his girlfriend, and later was transitioned to the adult units whenever he came back to the hospital. After years of fighting, he came back to the PICU for one last time. His cancer had progressed beyond his treatment options. Karen, and the other nurses on his team, were able to care for him and his family. Everyone on his team went above and beyond to give all the support and care we knew they deserved, but Karen went above even that. The night before he passed, knowing he was declining, Karen came in extra to be with his family and to support the staff. She helped his bedside nurse make handprints and other memory-making items. She was a supportive presence to her patient and his family and they remarked to us that they considered her family as well. She was there not only for him, but for the staff by doing this, she was an example of the type of relationship-based care we strive for in the PICU and we are honored to work alongside her. She gave them what few of us could that night, she stayed until 10pm and he passed peacefully later the next day. She gave them the gift of closure and we want to recognize her for the care she gave.
About the DAISY Award
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognizes outstanding members of the nursing community and the very special work they do every day. It was established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of the extraordinary nursing J. Patrick Barnes received when he was hospitalized. (DAISY is an acronym for diseases attacking the immune system.) This nursing recognition award program offers patients, families, and professional colleagues a way to honor nurses for all they do. The DAISY awardees consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care.