If you’ve never heard of rhabdomyolysis, you’re forgiven — Jessica Lashley hadn’t heard of it either until the diagnosis got her admitted to Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica.
Rhabdomyolysis happens when the proteins and electrolytes from damaged muscle tissue enter the blood, damaging the heart and kidneys. It can be fatal, it can lead to permanent disability — and it doesn’t happen often, which left Lashley’s outcome very much in the air.
But Lashley, 25, from Villa Rica, was lucky to have a great clinical team on her side — and a great nurse in particular.
Carisa Bonner, LPN, a licensed practical nurse on the women’s health unit at Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica, seemed to be at Lashley’s bedside constantly. Checking in. Explaining the treatment. Making sure she was comfortable. Talking.
Bonner’s compassion and commitment to Lashley — and every other patient she’s cared for at Tanner in her almost 30 years at the hospital — earned her Tanner Health System’s first ever DAISY Award.
The DAISY Award gives patients, families and Tanner team members a way to recognize nurses who go beyond what's expected in patient care — those who not only possess exceptional clinical skills, but who lead with compassion and are committed to nursing excellence.
“Carisa is so deserving of this award,” said Lashley. “She is amazing and kind, and she treated me like I was a friend rather than just a patient in the hospital. I can’t thank her enough for everything she did for me while I was here.”
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by his family. Patrick died at 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), an auto-immune disease.
DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. 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.
The DAISY Award is among the most celebrated achievements in nursing. The DAISY Foundation is an internationally recognized organization with more than 5,400 partnering healthcare facilities worldwide.
“Winning this award is an honor,” said Bonner. “It means a lot to me because I work more for God than anyone, and I’m thankful to be able to bless somebody like I’ve been blessed.”
All Tanner nurses are eligible for nomination and may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues. Winners are chosen by committee, and awards will be presented throughout the year. Nominations can be submitted online or by form at DAISY ballot boxes installed around Tanner hospitals.
“This award is a great honor, and we’re excited to partner with The DAISY Foundation to help us recognize the stellar care that our nursing teams provide,” said Loy Howard, president and CEO for Tanner. “Nursing is the heart of health care, and we’re excited to celebrate our nurses and their efforts to care for families and our neighbors in communities throughout the region.”
The DAISY Award recipients receive a certificate, DAISY Award pin and sculpture called "A Healer's Touch," a symbolic hand-carved statue by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.
They also are eligible for discounted tuition — something Bonner said would be great to enroll in an LPN-to-RN program and grow her career.
"Our nurses are incredible, and they work very hard to care for each of our patients,” said Michelle Hoehn, DNP, NE-BC, CMSRN, senior vice president of inpatient nursing and chief nursing officer at Tanner. “Carisa is a perfect example of the quality of nursing professionals working throughout our health care system. We’re so excited to celebrate her with this amazing award."
Bonner was surprised with her award with a special presentation from Tina Barnes Carraher, a co-founding family member of The DAISY Foundation. Carraher’s mother volunteered at Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica.
“Presenting this award is special and personal to me because of our connection to Villa Rica,” said Carraher, who still has loved ones who live in Mirror Lake. “We’re thrilled that Tanner is a part of our global community and that nurses systemwide be recognized, celebrated and honored for their incredible work.”
Like Carraher, Bonner has a personal connection to Villa Rica’s hospital — her mother, Renae Houston, was a registered nurse at the facility for more than 40 years before retiring in 1979.
Bonner’s presentation was the first at the health system, with leaders gathering to present awards to nurses at each of the organization’s facilities.
Other winners include Carisa Bonner, LPN, at Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica; Keyunda Bailey, RN, at Willowbrooke at Tanner; Audrey Kerekffy, RN, at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton; Courtney Wiggins-Carrillo, RN, at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton; Ashley Woolverton, RN, at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton; Jason Sides, RN, at Higgins General Hospital; and Deborah Robinson, RN, at Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama.
Hoehn and Howard said that The DAISY Award, presented quarterly, will be an essential part of Tanner’s commitment to honoring nurses for their hard work and dedication to their patients, the profession and setting the standard in patient care.
Anyone can nominate a nurse at tanner.org.
For more, visit DaisyFoundation.org.
