Bayhealth Milford Memorial Day Surgery Nurse Debbie Bowden, RN, CCRN, is a recipient of the DAISY Award for providing extraordinary nursing care. The DAISY Award is given by the DAISY Foundation, which was formed in 2000 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes. The Barnes family wanted to recognize the nurses who cared for Patrick and all the other “unsung heroes” of the nursing profession.
Bowden, a 31-year veteran of the nursing field, was nominated by Day Surgery coworker Kathy Steindl, who says Bowden is an exceptional nurse with exemplary compassion for her patients. Over the years, Bowden has built numerous relationships with patients, but it was one man in particular that stood out to Steindl. The patient spent a year coming to Day Surgery for IV antibiotics after surgery, and Bowden was there every step of the way as his advocate. “She was present for him and encouraged him to keep fighting. She never let him give up, even after two more surgeries and more antibiotics,” Steindl said. “There’s no doubt Debbie puts her patient’s safety first and will go to bat for each and every one of them.”
Caring for patients is something Bowden loves to do, and working with what she describes as the most awesome team is the icing on the cake. “It’s heartwarming for people to recognize that I love my job the way I do,” Bowden said. “Our patients are anxious and overwhelmed when they come in, but we’re able to put them at ease for a couple of hours. Knowing I’m able to do that for them makes me feel good. I have a very strong sense of fulfillment being able to help somebody.”
Hospitals and healthcare systems across the country, including Bayhealth, partner with the DAISY Foundation on the award. DAISY is an acronym for Disease Attacking the Immune System. The goals of the foundation include funding research and evidence-based practice projects that affect the treatment of patients with auto-immune diseases.
DAISY Award honorees are chosen by nurses, administrators, peers, physicians, volunteers, patients, and family. If you know a Bayhealth nurse who deserves to be nominated, visit Bayhealth.org/Daisy and fill out the nomination form.
