Newsworthy

Nurses go above and beyond daily to provide patients and families with excellent care. Mariella Kennedy, RN at the Stormont Vail Health Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Topeka, impacts our community’s health by showing compassion and kindness when she enters the door. For this reason, we celebrate Mariella for receiving the DAISY Award!

The DAISY Award celebrates and recognizes nurses who go the extra mile as a way to thank them for the care and compassion they provide. Mariella, who has provided patient care at Stormont Vail since 2020, received a nomination from her patient for her exceptional care. The patient expressed how Mariella’s attentive care comforted her and reassured her husband, making the situation less stressful for both of them.

“When I entered the room, I started having flashbacks from my first labor, which lasted 72 hours in total,” the patient wrote in Mariella’s nomination. “She was patient, gentle, polite, and funny. She speaks Spanish, my maternal language, which was great because it was easier for me to ask her questions and talk to her in general. My husband and I were fortunate to have her there for us.”

Mariella, congratulations on winning the DAISY Award! Kindness and laughter can significantly impact the quality of a patient’s stay. We admire and appreciate your ability to relax, relate, and care for your patients. As your patient said, we’re grateful to have someone like you on our team!

Read Mariella’s DAISY Spotlight

This delivery was my second one at Stormont Vail Health. When I entered the room, I started having flashbacks from my first labor, which lasted 72 hours in total. I saw my nurse, Mariella, coming in, and she immediately noticed I was nervous. She gave me a kind smile, started talking with my husband, and told us everything would be better and different this time. She was respectful of our choices and made sure to listen to our concerns.

Mariella was patient, gentle, polite, and funny. She speaks Spanish, my maternal language, which was great because it was easier for me to ask her questions and talk to her in general. During the whole stay, Mariella constantly made sure we were feeling well. The fact that she was standing right next to me during my contractions, epidural, and final pushes to deliver my baby meant a lot to me.

She remained positive, joyful, and thoughtful throughout the process. The simple gesture of a smile can change the perspective of an entire situation. My husband and I were fortunate to have her there for us. I’d love to see her accomplish anything that she wants in her life. Mariella deserves more than she has because she’s given far more than she is asked to. Stormont Vail is grateful to have someone like her. God bless her and her family!