McLaren Greater Lansing nurse Skyler Lopez was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the exceptional care nurses provide every day.
The nomination, submitted by a patient, reads as follows: “I was recently a patient in the surgical ICU at McLaren for several days. The care I received from all the nurses was excellent, but Skyler was exceptional. I met him the day after my surgery. His positive, confident, and quiet nature was most reassuring. I developed a hematoma at my surgical site. Skyler closely monitored me and the hematoma throughout the day. He marked the growth of the hematoma at hourly intervals, making sure that the physicians could note its growth rate. He was vigilant, but at no time did he make me feel anxious or afraid. At the end of his shift, he reassured me that a physician would come in to see me. I was transferred back to surgery a little after midnight. I remained on a liquid diet for two days after surgery.”
The patient went on to say: “When I was allowed to have a soft diet, Skyler did not wait for the kitchen to send a tray. He went to the kitchen and brought me some scrambled eggs — those were the best eggs I have ever eaten! Skyler was also attentive to my family members (of which there are many) who rotated their visitations. He even managed to learn many of their names, another example of his personalized care. I believe Skyler is the most deserving of a DAISY Award for his excellent care, concern for his patients’ wellbeing, and his innovative methods of delivering compassionate, skilled nursing care.”
Lopez was recognized by hospital leadership and coworkers as he received a certificate commending him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse” and a sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona people in Zimbabwe.
Lopez works in the intensive care unit (ICU) at McLaren Greater Lansing. He decided to go into the nursing profession after his own hospital experience when he was younger, persuaded by the excellent care he received then.
“When I was younger, I was in a vehicle accident and had to stay in the ICU for about two weeks in a medically induced coma, and when I woke up, the medical staff provided extraordinary care and worked really hard to get me back to better health and discharged,” said Lopez. “I pride myself now on being an advocate for my patients and giving them personalized care to get them better. This is a great honor to be recognized.”
About the DAISY Award
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation, based in Glen Ellen, California, was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon autoimmune disease. The care Barnes 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 patients and their families.
“When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced firsthand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” said Bonnie Barnes, president and co-founder of the DAISY Foundation. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the superhuman work they do. The kind of work the nurses at McLaren Greater Lansing are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of the DAISY Award.”