Sarah Dewey, a registered nurse in the emergency department at Baxter Health, has been recognized with the prestigious DAISY Award for her exceptional commitment to patient care. The DAISY Award is a national program celebrating nurses who go above and beyond in their work. At Baxter Health, the program is sponsored by FNBC.
According to a nomination submitted for the award, Dewey provided care for a young man who had a complex wound requiring daily attention. The patient, who lived over an hour from the hospital, declined home health services due to discomfort with having caregivers at his home. Understanding the importance of daily wound treatment for proper healing, Dewey discussed the situation with the patient and inquired if family or friends could assist. However, the patient explained that he had no support system to rely on.
Dewey then made an extraordinary offer: she promised to care for him personally, even outside her regular work hours. "If you will come back to the ED, I promise I will be the nurse to take care of you," she told him, according to the nomination.
True to her word, Dewey came to the hospital on her day off, set up follow-up visits, and attended to the wound herself. The nomination noted that her dedicated efforts not only eased the patient’s burden but also led to remarkably successful healing.
This accomplishment adds to Dewey’s impressive list of responsibilities. In addition to her full-time role in the emergency department, she is pursuing a nurse practitioner degree, works as a clinical educator for a local nursing school, and serves as her team’s Pediatric Champion. She also participates in disaster drill training, all while balancing life as a wife and mother to a young daughter.
“She is the kind of nurse we all strive to be,” the nomination said.
The DAISY Award highlights exceptional acts of compassion and skill in nursing, and Baxter Health’s recognition of Dewey honors her dedication to both the profession and her patients.