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Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center recognized one of its nurses for her extraordinary patient care. Morgan Walls, R.N., a nurse in the float pool at EMRMC, was one of many nurses nominated for the DAISY Award. A resident of Marion County, Walls has been caring for patients at EMRMC for six years.

Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital also recognized one of its nurses for her extraordinary patient care. Kristy Elder, a nurse in the Surgery Department at EMFLH, was one of many nurses nominated for the DAISY Award. Elder has been caring for patients at EMFLH for 10 years.

She was nominated by a patient.

“When Kristy called to tell me when my surgery was, she asked about different conditions I had,” the nomination said. “I told her about having IBS and PTSD from a tour in Vietnam. She proceeded to thank me for my service three or four times. She just came across as being so caring and friendly. When prepping me for surgery, she read the instructions and went over the instructions one by one to make sure I understood. After surgery she gave me a copy of the Mediterranean diet to help with my IBS. Kristy is a nurse that loves her job because she can make a difference in her patients’ lives.”

The DAISY Award is a national program that honors the compassionate care and clinical excellence that nurses bring to their patients every day. Nomination forms for the DAISY Award are available at various locations throughout Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital, Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital and other Ephraim McDowell facilities.

Walls was nominated by a Heritage Palliative Care nurse practitioner for the care she provided to a terminally ill patient.

“The patient requested removal of her BiPAP mask and was fully aware that off BiPAP, her death would likely occur within minutes or hours,” the nomination read. “A plan of care was developed to make the patient comfortable. Over the next two hours, the patient would rest but then intermittently begin to experience both shortness of air and anxiety. Due to Walls’ vigilance and rapid response to the patient’s symptoms, including prompt administration of needed medications, the patient remained comfortable during the dying process. During these difficult hours, Walls rarely left the bedside and provided this patient hours of professional, expert and compassionate nursing care. I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate having Walls at the bedside during this challenging course of patient care.”

Ephraim McDowell is proud to recognize nurses with the DAISY Award, a national program which honors the compassionate care and clinical excellence that nurses bring to their patients every day. Nomination forms for the DAISY Award are available at various locations throughout Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital, Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital and other Ephraim McDowell facilities.