Compassionate Nursing Celebrated at Blythedale Children’s Hospital with DAISY Award

Maria Marsico, RN, MSN,CPN, received a national DAISY Award for Exceptional Nurses at Blythedale Children’s Hospital on April 15, in recognition of her extraordinary patient care.
 
April 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Maria Marsico, RN, MSN,CPN, received a DAISY Award for Exceptional Nurses at Blythedale Children’s Hospital on April 15, in recognition of her extraordinary  patient care. Nominated by a grateful patient, Marsico received the national award during a surprise ceremony held at the Hospital that morning.

“As nurses, when a patient, family or colleague takes the time to recognize us not only for our care, but for caring—that is the ultimate praise,” said Blythedale’s Chief Nursing Officer Judi Peacock, MPH, RN, WCC. “Compassion and caring is at the heart of nursing at Blythedale.” Peacock led the ceremony and read excerpts from Marsico’s nomination, which was submitted by a young patient who cited Marsico as an inspiration. “She was my first nurse when I got here,” the child wrote. “She would not stop trying to get me to try and talk…until my shell cracked and I let her in. She is the best nurse.” In addition to the touching words of gratitude, Marsico received an “Exceptional Nurse” certificate from the DAISY Foundation, a daisy pin, and a small handcrafted “Healer’s Touch” sculpture made by Shona artisans of Zimbabwe. The sculpture represents the importance of healers, truly fitting to the value placed on nurses by Blythedale, its patients and parents.

Marsico earned her BSN and MSN degrees from Lehman College and has worked at Blythedale for 18 years. She is a Certified Pediatric Nurse and currently works on the Hospital’s Adolescent Unit. Marsico also holds a degree in literature from Fordham University and resides in Armonk, NY.

Rendered speechless by the honor, Marsico took a few moments to find the right words to express her feelings. “That’s what means so much to me,” she said when she learned the nomination came from a young patient. “As nurses, we are truly the catalysts to a great quality of life,” she said.

The celebration of compassionate nursing concluded with Cinnabon cinnamon rolls for the entire unit, courtesy of the company that serves as a DAISY program corporate partner.

Registered nurses may be nominated for a DAlSY Award by staff, co-workers, patients or patients' parents and family members. Winners are selected quarterly by an 11-member committee based on a list of criteria including compassionate caring, inspiration of others, resolution of patient care challenges, and establishing a caring presence and healing bond with the patient and family.

The DAISY Award, an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, is a national program that began in 2001 by the DAISY Foundation in Glen Ellen, California. The DAISY Foundation was started by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a bleeding condition in which the blood doesn't clot properly. Deeply touched by the compassionate care Patrick received from his nurses, the Barnes family created the national DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses to recognize the incredible work that nurses do every day. Focus Brands Inc., makers of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, and AONE (American Organization for Nurse Executives) are corporate sponsors of the DAISY Awards.

For more information on the DAISY Award at Blythedale Children’s Hospital, please contact Blythedale’s Chief Nursing Officer Judi Peacock at jpeacock@blythedale.org or 914-592-7555, ext. 593.  For more information about the DAISY Foundation, please visit www.daisyfoundation.org

About Blythedale Children’s Hospital
Founded more than 100 years ago, Blythedale Children’s Hospital has been a leader in developing innovative, multi-disciplinary inpatient and ambulatory programs, as well as a community resource for children with a variety of medical concerns and their families. Through its inpatient and day hospital programs, Blythedale Children’s Hospital treats more than 300 children daily, making it one of the largest providers of children’s services in New York State. In addition, the Hospital provides diagnosis and treatment for hundreds of outpatients with a wide range of medical difficulties. For more information about Blythedale Children’s Hospital, visit www.blythedale.org

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Blythedale Children's Hospital is dedicated exclusively to the diagnosis, care and treatment of children with complex medical and rehabilitative needs.

Photo Caption:
Blythedale Children’s Hospital celebrated Maria Marsico, RN, MSN,CPN, the recipient of a DAISY Award for Exceptional Nurses. Nominated by a grateful patient, Marsico received the national award on April 15 in recognition of her extraordinary patient care. A resident of Armonk, NY, Marsico has been a nurse at Blythedale for 18 years and currently works on the Adolescent Unit. From left: Blythedale President & CEO Larry Levine; Maria Marsico; Chief Nursing Officer Judi Peacock, MPH, RN, WCC; and Chief Operating Officer Maureen Desimone, RN.
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