Newtown Square Nurse Honored For Patient Dedication

NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA – A local nurse was recently commended for her dedication to patients and her career. Her hard work and selflessness earned her the Crozer-Keystone’s DAISY Award, which is presented to nurses who make a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

Lisa Sullivan, R.N. of Newtown Square, a maternal/child health nurse at Delaware County Memorial Hospital, was recently named the DAISY Award recipient after being nominated by one of her patients.

The nominating patient came to the hospital's Maternal/Child Health Unit with severe abdominal pain and from the moment she met Sullivan, the patient knew she was in the hands of a kind, compassionate and competent nurse.

"Lisa held my hand and encouraged me that everything was going to be alright when I was at my breaking point," the patient said of Sullivan. "She listened to what I wanted, not what she wanted for me. We both came up with a plan for my pain management together."

Rose Amato, R.N.C.-OB, B.S.N., MHA, nurse director of the Maternal/Child Health Unit at DCMH, called Sulllivan a "superwoman."

"She works hard on the third shift, and when she’s done she goes home to see her husband off to work and take care of her four children," Amato said. "But when she’s here, her patients are her family. That’s exactly how she treats them, and they feel her concern for their well-being. Lisa deserves this very special honor."

The nominating patient also had quite the commendation of Sullivan, comparing her work ethic to an "Olympic marathon runner" and never complained or looked tired.

"To take time out when I am in the most pain to talk to me as a human being – not just as a patient – made me feel safe and secure," the patient said. "This is why I am nominating this sweet, hardworking, selfless, innovative, and very extraordinary woman for your very prestigious DAISY Award."

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died in 1999 at the age of 33 from complications from an autoimmune disease, according to a press release.

The care that Barnes and his family received from nurses throughout his illness inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

Each DAISY Award honoree is recognized at a public ceremony on his or her unit and receives a certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a beautifully hand-carved stone sculpture.

In addition, the unit celebrates their colleague’s achievement with Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, which were a favorite of Patrick’s during his illness.

Pictured above are Sullivan with other nurses at Delaware County Memorial Hospital

Contributed photo