Gina Geisler, RN, is the most recent recipient of the DAISY Award at Greene County Medical Center. She was one of 10 nurses nominated for the award, which is used to recognize exceptional patient care in more than 1,700 medical facilities worldwide. Recipients are nominated by patients and their families or by co-workers.
The award was presented Wednesday as part of the National Nurses Week observance at the medical center.
Nominees in addition to Geisler were Allie Hamilton, Maria Bretey, Vicki McCool, Christie Pille, Heather Kinsey, Jeanne Hoening, Jill Juergensen, Brenda Groves and Jodi Schroeder.
Geisler was nominated by the daughter of a long term care patient in her care. On the nomination form, the daughter told of Geisler’s attentiveness when the daughter noted that her mother wasn’t looking well that day. Geisler monitored her closely throughout her shift and contacted a doctor, who told her to keep monitoring her. The woman ultimately suffered a heart attack. She survived, and the daughter credits Geisler with saving her mother’s life.
The nomination noted “Gina’s compassion and diligence and persistency to act on a vital that wasn’t normal… Hat’s off to a diligent and exceptional nurse going above and beyond.”
Speakers at the awards ceremony were Becky Wolf, director of public health, and her daughters Julie Tuel and Christie Pope. All three are nurses, with Wolf spending her career at Greene County Medical Center and both daughters at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Wolf gave examples of how nursing has changed over the centuries and during her 38 years in the profession. Tuel and Pope talked about what they love about nursing.
The DAISY Award was first given at the medical center in August 2014. DAISY Award recipients include Kelsey Stumbo, Kasey Greteman, Carol Christensen, Sarah Borgeson, Desiree Monaghan, Lori Harrah, Laine Custer and Jenny Taylor.
Nominations are accepted year-round. The award is presented in the spring and in the fall each year. Nominations are blinded and the winner is selected by a local committee at the medical center.
