Newsworthy

Nurses go above and beyond daily to provide patients and families with excellent care. At the Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, the Perioperative Services team assists doctors, advocates for patients, and provides a vital line of communication with care teams, their patients, and families.

As an acute care RN in the Perioperative Services Unit, Sandra Vassell sees new patients daily, which sometimes makes building relationships and trust challenging. However, as she proved, nurses can meaningfully impact patients despite the fast-paced setting and limited time together. For this reason, we celebrate Sandra for her 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. Sandra, who has provided exceptional care at Stormont Vail since 2023, received a nomination from a patient she cared for.

“Sandra was wonderfully encouraging to me and my husband, who also liked her,” the patient wrote in Sandra’s nomination. “The little things she did made me feel she genuinely cared about me and my situation. Sandra is a wonderful nurse and person. If I have surgery again, I would like Sandra to take care of me. She is a gem, and Stormont Vail is so fortunate to have her.”

Sandra’s actions show how far small acts of kindness can go to make a difference in the present moment. Her deeds encompass the spirit of what the DAISY Award celebrates and inspire us to strive for excellence in our own roles.

Read Sandra’s DAISY Spotlight

On a Friday, I had a cardiac ablation. Sandra was my nurse after I left the PACU and before I was discharged. She’s an amazing nurse and person! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and am so happy she cared for me.

First, Sandra’s nursing skills are outstanding. She knew when to check on me and the steps to prepare me for discharge. Sandra gradually provided fluids, Jell-O, and crackers to ensure I didn’t get sick or nauseous. I’ve never had an IV taken out so quickly, and with no pain from the tape being taken off my skin. She had me ready to go to the bathroom the minute my time lying on my back was finished, which was most appreciated.

I was a little concerned about walking around the unit, which I had to do before discharge. But Sandra was there every step of the way and was very encouraging! I was also nervous about going home, but Sandra explained everything to my husband and me so well and gave us paperwork we could read.

Sandra was wonderfully encouraging to me and my husband, who also liked her. The little things she did made me feel that she genuinely cared about me and my situation. Sandra is a wonderful nurse and person. If I have surgery again, I would like Sandra to take care of me. She is a gem, and Stormont Vail Health is so fortunate to have her.