Heather Loughner, RN, 3 South, has been honored as Mercy Memorial Hospital System’s DAISY Award winner.

A nurse since 2005, Loughner was a student for a year then graduated from Monroe County Community College with her nursing degree.

“I always wanted to be a nurse, but my mom didn’t think I had the stomach for it,” she said.

Loughner didn’t pursue nursing right out of high school, but it was a job at a group home with physically and mentally handicapped adults which motivated her even more to work toward her goal of becoming a nurse. She worked as a nurse’s aide and put herself through school.

“I know it’s what I was meant to do,” she said.

Loughner was the charge nurse on the day that a particular patient came to the desk to speak to her about her pending procedure. She was extremely anxious and wringing her hands with worry. Loughner spoke to the patient at great length to calm her. She explained the procedure at the level that the patient could comprehend which appeared to calm the patient somewhat. She recognized that the patient still exhibited a level of anxiety so she went to the store on her lunch hour and purchased two electronic hand held games for the unit. Loughner took them directly to the patient and explained to her that it would keep her hands and her mind busy while waiting to have the procedure completed. The patient was extremely thankful and returned the hand held games the next day to the manager. She could not say enough about Loughner and how impressed she was with her thoughtfulness and willingness to go the extra mile to take care of her emotional needs as well as her physical needs.

“Heather has strong clinical skills and is dedicated to patient safety and exhibits courage to do what is right,” said her manager, Melinda Newis, R.N. “Heather is reliable, thoughtful and helpful to her patients and co-workers.

Loughner looks at her experience all as part of doing her job.

“I was happy to be able to help the person who was anxious,” she said. “The patient was really afraid. I did a little education and explained the procedure a little better. Nursing is about being that person for the patient – we become part of a person’s story. People remember their experience. You can be part of their story in a very positive way or a negative way. You have opportunities to be part of it in a positive way.”

Loughner was not only presented her award during a recent 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.