All-Star Nursing Team at Altru Recognized with the Daisy Award

Grand Forks, N.D. - Altru is recognizing an all-star nursing team with the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Jessica Adam and Nicole Graham cared for a patient in the family care unit. The patient’s spouse was moved by the exceptional care they provided.

“Jessica was always kind, compassionate, and did everything in her power to make sure my wife was as comfortable as possible – both physically and emotionally,” said the patient’s spouse.

Jessica even provided the couple’s children with stickers to help keep them entertained while their mother was resting.

Nicole spent time listening to her patient’s story and learning how best to meet her needs.

“Never in our hospital experience has anyone spent that amount of time just listening and being present,” the patient’s spouse said. “Nicole sat with my wife in the middle of the night and talked her through a panic attack whereas many others might just give a medication and leave.”

The patient’s spouse credits their incredible nursing team with aiding in a quicker recovery.

“There is absolutely zero doubt that my wife is being discharged sooner than would have been possible without the incredible care provided by these two nurses,” the patient’s spouse said. “These two absolutely set the standard for care. We’re so lucky to have been under their care throughout our stay. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

By taking time to listen to a patient, a difficult experience with healthcare can be transformed.

“Our patients and community deserve high-quality, compassionate care,” said Altru’s Chief Nursing Officer Cory Geffre. “We are lucky to work with this nursing team. Jessica and Nicole are helping Altru deliver the best patient experience possible.”

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, Calif., 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, auto-immune 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.