Gwen Wheeler is the August DAISY Award Winner!

A program to recognize the care and compassion of extraordinary nurses continues at UHS with Gwen Wheeler, BSN, RN, UHS Wilson Medical Center Emergency Department, being named the August winner of the DAISY Award! Gwen was recognized and presented with the award for the achievement, and enjoyed cinnamon rolls, a symbolic treat in honor of Patrick Barnes, whose experience inspired the award.

The Emergency Department nurse received nine nominations by different colleagues. In the nomination letters, her colleagues spoke about the incredible way she cares for patients, always going above and beyond for them. The letters go on to talk about Gwen's unique ability to do both intense, effective, and immediate interventions while sustaining a gentle tone, a compassionate demeanor, and a loving touch. Despite dealing with less than ideal situations, Gwen never raises her voice, loses her patience, or asks someone to perform a task she wouldn't do herself. 

Her colleagues gushed about how she has dedicated herself to being an expert in the ER, but also of being an expert of her community. She knows her people and town, and she knows how to provide care when everything looks like an obstacle. When working with Gwen no matter what circumstances have gone on in the Emergency room, she always shows compassion, innovation, she’s trustworthy and always provides excellent teamwork for an outstanding patient experience and supports her team.

"To tell one story of Gwen just wouldn't do justice. Because every hour of her shifts, 5 shifts a week, Gwen is the same Gwen to every single patient, with integrity, compassion, respect, and a graciousness that has been ceaseless for years," said one colleague." Gwen looks every patient in the eye, values their humanity, and invests herself in their care. She is ceaseless in repositioning restless patients. She washes those who cannot wash themselves with a standard of excellence, even when it would go unnoticed by anyone around her, including the patients."

Thank you to Gwen for displaying such Compassion, Innovation and Respect to your patients, a stellar example of our team living "The UHS Way!"

The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem) Award is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day. The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes after the Seattle man died from complications of the auto-immune disease ITP in 1999. During his hospitalization, the family members deeply appreciated the care and compassion shown to Patrick and his loved ones. When he died, they felt compelled to say thank you to nurses in a very public way. To learn more, visit DAISYFoundation.org. 

Started at UHS in April 2021, nurses are nominated by anyone in the organization - patients, family members, other nurses, physicians, other clinicians and staff - anyone who experiences or observes extraordinary care being provided by a nurse.

Nominations are submitted by using a form found on NYUHS.org. On this form, the person will be able to tell the story of why they are nominating the nurse, while also choosing which UHS Value (Compassion, Trust, Respect, Teamwork, Innovation) the nurse displayed.

If you have any questions, please contact Toni Nash at (607) 763-6896 or send an email to daisy@nyuhs.org.