Gerber Memorial nurse recognized for staying with a new mom to welcome a new life FREMONT, Mich., Oct. 22, 2020 – For Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial registered nurse Audrey Burmeister, helping a nervous new mom welcome her child into the world was an opportunity to live one of Spectrum Health’s core values: sharing compassion and personalizing the health care experience. “As a nurse and caregiver, it's an honor to share in our community's personal life experiences – in my case, to support families and help positively shape their memories as their child is born,” Burmeister said. “I treat my patients as though they are my personal friend or family member. My patient and I had a bond that we were going to see this life changing event through, so I stayed to support her by her side as we all do as caregivers. I was humbled to receive the DAISY Award and be recognized is an honor. My ‘Gerber hospital family’ are all supportive friends who encourage our growth as caregivers.” In Burmeister’s case, every step of the way meant clocking out after her shift had ended, and then returning to keep the new mom company until her baby was born later. For that extra effort, Burmeister was awarded the DAISY Award recognizing exceptional nursing care. “I started laboring and was ready to deliver toward the end of her shift – I was so comfortable around her and I felt a real bond with Audrey that I was begging her not to leave my side the closer it got to her having to go home,” the patient wrote in nominating Burmeister. “She came back in and said she clocked out but would stay by me until the baby was born. It made me feel more at ease having a familiar face in there.” The patient described Burmeister, who was the nurse on duty when she arrived, as detail-oriented and explained “everything to us because as first-time parents, we were in the dark about a lot of what was going to happen.” Burmeister has worked at Gerber Memorial since 2011 and lives in Shelby. As a DAISY Award honoree, Burmeister received a certificate commending her for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” The honoree also receives a beautiful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved from serpentine stone by artists of the Shona tribe in southern Africa. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues, and they are chosen by a committee of nurses at Gerber Memorial to receive the award. Part of a national program, the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is part of the DAISY Foundation's program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day. Nomination forms are available at nursing stations throughout the hospital and patients can submit those forms either by placing them in gray boxes near those forms or by handing them to a nurse or other hospital staff. Nominating forms will also be available at the hospital’s main lobby, as well as included in admission packets. The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, Calif., and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at the age of 33 in 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Barnes 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. For more information about The DAISY Award and the Foundation’s other recognition of nurses, faculty and students, visit www.DAISYfoundation.org. Patients, visitors, nurses, physicians, and associates are encouraged to nominate a deserving nurse by filling out the nomination form at reception located at the main hospital entrance. Completed forms can be dropped off or emailed to shgminfo@spectrumhealth.org.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
April 2024
Categories |