Laine Custer (right), a longtime public health nurse at Greene County Medical Center, was presented the DAISY Award at a ceremony attended by about 75 people Thursday morning at the medical center. She was nominated for the award by co-worker Sarah Borgeson (left).
Custer has been with the medical center’s public health department for 22 years both as a clinic nurse and as a home health nurse. She currently teaches the allied health classes offered through Greene County High School as well.
“It’s a very exciting thing to honor extraordinary nurses and we have a lot of them here. We has some we are honoring here today, but I don’t want to forget the ones who do amazing things to take care of our patients, our residents and our clients,” said Becky Wolf, director of public health, as she introduced the award nominees.
Borgeson’s nomination noted that Custer is resourceful, has a positive attitude, and often does more than is required of her. “Laine listens with her heart, and I often hear her say, ‘We have to do what is best for our clients.’ I have personally witnessed her compassionate care and genuine kindness with her clients and always portraying ‘I have time,’ even if it means extending the length of her visit, and still being on time, if not early, for her next visit,” the nomination stated.
The award recipient was selected by a committee of nurses at the medical center. The first DAISY Award was presented to Jenny Taylor in August. Going forward, the award will be presented in the spring and fall of each year. Nominations will always be accepted at displays at the medical center.
Custer received a certificate and a “Healer’s Touch” sculpture, hand-carved by artists of the Shona tribe in Africa.
Award nominees were (from left) Janelle Cates, Kim Tasler, Allie Hamilton, Kathi Hoskins, Custer, Tammy Zuber, Abby Skoglund, Dawn HoskinsTingwald, Andrea Allbee and Wolf. Hoskins works in the surgery department, Custer and Wolf are in public health, and the remaining nurses all work in acute care. (Click on photo to enlarge in a new screen.)
Members of the DAISY Award committee at Greene County Medical Center are Wolf, Sandy Atkinson, Melanie Frantz, Tasler, Borgeson, Christie Busch and Robin Gunn.
The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the “superhuman efforts nurses perform every day.” That foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications an auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
In the past 15 years, the DAISY Award recognitions have been started at more than 1,700 medical facilities worldwide, and thousands of nurses have been honored. Nurse executive Katie Heldt introduced the DAISY award at Greene County Medical Center.
Custer was also congratulated by Heldt (far right) and medical center CEO Carl Behne (to her left).
