PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — One nurse at The Aroostook Medical Center recently received the hospital’s very first DAISY Award.
The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day.
The very first TAMC nurse to be honored is Carole Olore, RN, CCE, CLC, CPST RN-C, of Presque Isle. Olore, who works in the hospital’s Women & Children’s Unit, handles all areas of labor and delivery, postpartum, nursery and pediatrics.
Olore was the guest of honor at a surprise celebration in her department, during which she was presented a daisy pin, a sculpture called A Healer’s Touch hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa, and a certificate commending her for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.”
“I had read about the DAISY award and thought, ‘That’s nice,’ and never ever thought I would be nominated, let alone be the first TAMC employee to receive this prestigious award,” said Olore. “The day of the ceremony was a total surprise on many levels. I am truly humbled, very thankful and wear my DAISY award pin proudly. It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of something so special.”
Sherry Beaulieu, director of guest relations and volunteer services at TAMC nominated Olore. She read from a letter she had sent to Olore a number of years ago regarding the role Olore played in the birth of her daughter more than two decades ago.
Beaulieu shared how nervous she was to try to deliver her daughter “naturally” after a previous challenging experience resulting in an emergency Cesarean section with her son. She credits Olore with her support and staying by her side, even after her shift was supposed to end.
“Carole, I know you would say you were only doing your job, but you don’t know how much your soft encouraging voice and cheerleader attitude helped calm my fears and assured me that I could really have a successful birth,” read Beaulieu from her letter. “I will never forget the care, compassion and dedication you gave to this very nervous mom. On that day you were my guardian nurse angel and your kindness will stay with me in my precious memories for many years to come. Not enough words can express my many thanks to you.”
TAMC President Greg LaFrancois presented Olore with her DAISY certificate and thanked her for her outstanding service and her commitment to patients.
Odette LaPointe, a DAISY Award coordinator at the hospital, discussed the award’s history. TAMC began taking part in the DAISY program earlier this year, with award nominations opening in January. Nominations are being sought throughout the year from patients, family members of patients, and co-workers. From these nominations, a panel of judges will select one nurse recipient for the DAISY honor every quarter. These judges do not know the names of the nominees, only the stories about why each one was nominated, so that decisions are not impacted by personal connections.
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon autoimmune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, president and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation, said, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at TAMC are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
For more information or to nominate a nurse, visit www.tamc.org and click on the DAISY banner at the top of the page. Nomination brochures are also available in the hospital’s main lobby.
