WEST PLAINS, MO – BJ Richardson, registered nurse (RN) in Ozarks Healthcare’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), was recently honored with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses for the compassion she showed to a patient and his family during his care. Richardson has been a nurse for 30 years at Ozarks Healthcare. The DAISY Award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.
Richardson was nominated to receive a DAISY Award by Dr. Sandra Abrams for the compassion she shared with her husband, Keith, while being under the care of Ozarks Healthcare’s ICU due to complications of COVID-19. Keith passed away due to the severity of his complications. Abrams wanted to recognize Richardson for the heartfelt care she provided during his hospitalization:
“We will be forever grateful for the love and compassion BJ showed my husband, Keith,” Abrams said. “When I was finally able to see him through his door, BJ would be sitting by his side, holding his hand and helping him calm his breathing and anxiety that comes with COVID-19 pneumonia. While my heart was breaking, I was so thankful to have someone with him who was so compassionate and caring.”
Abrams and fellow staff from Ozarks Healthcare surprised Richardson with a presentation of her DAISY Award during National Nurses Week.
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick 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.
Members of the public, including patients, visitors, nurses, physicians, and Ozarks Healthcare coworkers may nominate a deserving nurse for his or her compassionate care and clinical excellence by filling out an a nomination form located online at https://www.ozarkshealthcare.com/your-visit/ or picking one up at several locations throughout Ozarks Healthcare’s Hospital.
