Kaylen Oldham, a registered nurse at Baxter Health, has been honored with a DAISY Award for the exceptional care she provided to a patient during his final hours. The DAISY Award, sponsored at Baxter Health by FNBC, is given to nurses who demonstrate extraordinary compassion and care for both patients and their families.
Oldham’s nomination came from the patient’s daughter, who is also a nurse. According to her account, her father was being treated on Baxter Health's sixth floor when a sudden medical event required his transfer to the emergency department and subsequently to the intensive care unit. He had developed sepsis from pneumonia.
The patient, who had expressed his readiness to pass away and had a do-not-resuscitate order, required care that honored his wishes for a dignified and peaceful end. The nomination details how Oldham, recognizing the importance of upholding his desires, contacted his physician to arrange the removal of his breathing support and to discontinue treatments that no longer aligned with his goals.
Oldham also ensured comfort medications were prepared to prevent suffering and brought a quilt from the hospital’s Comfort Cart to cover him. The patient’s daughter described sitting at her father’s side during his final moments, holding his hand and saying goodbye. The quilt, now kept in her home, serves as a profound reminder of that time.
“Kaylen’s compassion cannot be taught,” the daughter wrote in her nomination.
The DAISY Award recognizes nurses who go above and beyond their clinical responsibilities, providing care rooted in empathy and respect. Oldham’s actions exemplify the qualities that the award seeks to honor.