Nancy Russell, RN, Pediatric Acute, is the October DAISY Award recipient at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. 

Nancy was nominated by a parent of a former patient as well as her co-workers who all shared how Nancy provides all her patients and their families with care and compassion. The nomination submitted by the patient’s mother stated, “Nancy held my son’s hand during a difficult time after surgery. It was a tough situation, and he was in excruciating pain. Nancy reassured him and kept talking to him. She held his hand the entire time. She immediately gave him pain medication he needed.”

Nancy’s co-workers wrote, “Nancy constantly goes above and beyond to connect with her patients and their families. She is often found in a patient’s room chitchatting and giving tons of advice — both medical advice and life advice. She is warm, engaging, encouraging and respectful. She often goes above her call as a bedside nurse to that of an amazing human and friend. Nancy’s goal each shift is to not only take care of each of her patients each day to the best of her ability, but to make sure they are as happy and as comfortable as possible.”

One story submitted tells of Nancy’s compassion and care when a mother ran to Starbucks to get a much-needed cup of coffee. Mom was thrilled to be able to step away from the bedside, take a walk by herself and get a big cup of caffeine. As soon as the mom returned to the patient’s room, she dropped the entire cup of coffee all over the floor. Nancy not only helped the mom clean up, but promptly ordered the mom a brand-new coffee exactly to her liking and hand delivered it to her. The patient’s mom broke out in tears over the level of support and sympathy Nancy offered to her.