Shawna Cornell, RN, was nominated for the DAISY Award not only for the outstanding care she provided but also for the compassion that she gave to a family during a very difficult situation in the ICU. Not only was she nominated by her peers, but recently she was also nominated by the patient’s family for her outstanding care.

A female patient was admitted with a severe intracranial injury and unfortunately the prognosis was terminal from the beginning. Cornell cared for the patient within the first 24 hours of admission and built a great foundation with the family to help them cope with the diagnosis.

Cornell also helped with explaining information to the patient’s two young children. She was committed to caring and providing consistency for the patient and family so she picked up an extra shift to be able to support them. She helped the family come to terms with the diagnosis and start to work with them on the organ donation process, as it was the patient’s desire to be an organ donor and the family wanted to honor the patient’s wishes.

As this process started, the husband and mother knew they had to tell her children that their mother had passed. Cornell sat with them and went over different ways that they could try to explain that to the children. When they were ready to bring the children in to visit they asked if Cornell could sit with them for support. As they started to attempt to explain to the children they were not able to speak and looked at Cornell for support. She immediately stepped in and gently said to the children, “your mom has passed away but she wanted to help people.” Cornell briefly touched on what it means to be an organ donor. She then drew from a personal loss in her life and told the children that every time they find a penny facing heads up that it meant their mother was giving them a hug from heaven.

The family expressed how amazing Cornell was with the children and how grateful they were for all her support throughout the entire experience. Cornell cared for them until the patient was transferred.

“As nurses we have the privilege and opportunity to make a difference with each interaction,” said Janet Balazs, ICU nurse manager. “This is something that can’t be measured. I truly believe the care and compassion that Shawna provided is not just their patient family experience, it’s now part of their family story.”

Cornell has been a nurse for five years and just moved to Trenton, Mich. from Columbus, Ohio nearly a year ago. She most recently worked at Ohio State University Medical Center, but started at a community hospital beforehand in critical care then progressed to surgical oncology and now back to critical care.

This particular patient’s story touches on not only the high caliber of care, but also the education of the family they were unaware of the patient’s desire to become an organ donor.

“When I talked to them, they were really receptive to bring something positive out of something horrific,” Cornell said. “They were all really brave in supporting her desire to help other people.”

“What resonated for me, (this patient) was selfless and even at a time when she was young and healthy – she was thinking about other people. You go to the Secretary of State by yourself, you wait in this line and then they ask you at the end of your visit about organ donation. You never think to bring up what you decided on to your family about organ donation.”

Cornell said the woman’s husband has now signed up to be an organ donor.

Since she has worked here less than a year, Cornell said she was “really surprised” to receive the DAISY distinction.

“The whole case chokes me up a bit,” she said. “But this is why I became a nurse…it’s not about all of our fancy equipment – but those moments I had with those kids in the room.”

The Trenton resident was not only presented her award during a staff meeting, but she also received a DAISY Award signature lapel pin and a hand-carved sculpture “A Healer’s Touch.”  To further celebrate, the staff were treated to Cinnabon’s cinnamon rolls – with the reminder that the scent will remind them of how special they are and how important their work is.

The DAISY Award is an international program which rewards excellence in nursing.  It was created by the DAISY Foundation to recognize clinical skills, extraordinary compassion and care exhibited by nurses every day.

The DAISY Foundation began in memory of Patrick Barnes, 33, who died from complications of idiopathic thrombocystpenic purpura (ITP).  The DAISY Foundation is dedicated to funding research to help fight immune system diseases.  Since Patrick and his family were touched with remarkable care during his illness, the family made it their mission to recognize exceptional nurses around the country.

Forms for nominations are available on the nursing units and can be completed and returned to the unit for consideration. In addition, an electronic version is available on www.mercymemorial.org.