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Cherished Nurse Receives Prestigious Award

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A Phoenix resident working as a nurse at Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Jessie Vold, RN, was recently honored with a DAISY Award for providing outstanding, kindhearted care.

An expectant mother, Kimberly Oswalt, was visiting Arizona from Ohio three years ago with her husband Adam. At just 23-weeks gestation, she unexpectedly began to experience premature labor complications. When the couple arrived at St. Joseph's, they were immediately grateful for Vold's presence, telling hospital administration that Vold has an infectious smile and an optimistic approach to stressful situations. She made sure that Oswalt was relaxed and comfortable even during the toughest times.

The Oswalts named their son Joseph, partly because of their positive experience at the hospital. While the couple was ultimately faced with grieving the passing of Joseph, they are forever grateful for the skill and level of care provided by the nurses assigned to them, including Vold.

"When Adam and I think back to Arizona, we have fond memories of our small family of three, and although we can't help but think about those moments of intense fear followed by sorrow and grief after Joseph passed, we are always uplifted by the hope, compassion, and love our nurses left in our hearts," Oswalt said.

Vold's direct influence on her patients' level of comfort and happiness leaves an everlasting impression on those around her. The DAISY Award was presented to Vold because she consistently demonstrates the outstanding degree of compassion and diligence the award sets out to recognize.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is part of The DAISY (D)iseases Attacking the Immune System Foundation's program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses make every day.

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation, based in Glen Ellen, Calif., was established by J. Mark Barnes and his family in memory of his son J. Patrick Barnes. J. Patrick died at the age of 33 in 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (IT)P, a little-known autoimmune disease. The nursing care Patrick and his family received while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and families.

"We are proud to be among the hospital systems participating in The DAISY Award program," says Patty White, president and CEO of Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center. "Nurses are heroes every day. It's important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides another way for us to do that."

Publish date: 

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

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