Congratulations to Christine Zuidema, RN, our most recent winner of the DAISY Award!
Christy is a nurse on the Pine Rest Hickory inpatient unit who recently went “above and beyond” during a Code Blue situation when a student with a known seizure disorder experienced a sudden seizure in the midst of a team meeting.
“When I walked into the room, Christy was down on the floor with the student, reassuring her that she was all right,” recalls her colleague, Dr. Jack Mahdasian. “She didn’t leave her side and calmly directed other team members as to what the student needed … Only when the student was out of danger did Christy make her way back to our team meeting.”
Christy was also recognized for her “kindness, enthusiasm and compassion” on the inpatient unit. “Christy enthusiastically welcomed me as if it was her first day on the job,” says one of the patients who nominated her for the DAISY award. “Little did I know it was her seventh year working on the unit.”
Said another patient: “It’s easy to take these unsung heroes for granted … Christy accepts every patient for exactly who they are, and for that I am forever grateful.”
“The day I came in was one of the worst days of my life,” recalls another nominating patient. “Christy was my angel. I can never thank her enough for her kindness.”
The DAISY award is presented in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and consists of a pin, sculpture and recognition on both DAISY’s International website and here at Pine Rest.
To learn more about the DAISY award and/or nominate an extraordinary Pine Rest nurse, visit our DAISY Nomination page.
