We’re Celebrating Nurses Week by Highlighting Their Great Work

Mary Galloway, a patient care coordinator for NSICU at the Infirmary, received the January Daisy Award.

The coworker who nominated Mary noted the kindness and compassion she showed a patient’s family during an especially difficult time.

The patient’s family member had been staying with the patient for several days, skipping meals and neglecting her hygiene because she did not have the funds or transportation to leave the hospital to care for herself.

When Mary heard about this situation, she immediately took action. She ensured the patient received guest meals from the cafeteria, and using her own funds, took the family member to the store for a change of clothes and hygiene essentials. She also set up a location where the family member could bathe and change clothes, allowing the family to remain at the bedside during a difficult time.

“This nurse is a truly wonderful and compassionate nurse. She is a leader and set the example of what nursing is supposed to represent. We are greatly blessed to have her as our charge nurse.”

The DAISY Award was established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at 33 of ITP, an auto-immune disease. The Barnes Family was awestruck by the clinical skills, caring and compassion of the nurses who cared for Patrick, so they created this national award to say thank you to nurses everywhere.