American Sentinel University Nursing Graduate Honored with DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses
Aurora, Colo. (PRWEB) March 17, 2015 -- American Sentinel University, an accredited career-focused online university, today announced that nursing graduate Patrice Dillow, MSN, RN, APRN, WOCN has been honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses by Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) in recognition for her commitment and patient-centered approach to care.
The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's program and is given monthly to nurses who consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care. It recognizes the super-human efforts nurses perform every day as outstanding role models in the nursing community.
Dillow, a 2012 graduate of American Sentinel’s Master of Science nursing program, joined CTCA at Midwestern in 1997. In her role as a CTCA nurse, she supports patients living with wound, ostomy and continence related conditions. At the same time, she makes exceptional efforts to help new nurses understand the many aspects of their roles by serving as a mentor and providing nurse education through in-services and shadowing.
“We are thrilled that Patrice has been honored with the DAISY Award for her compassionate care,” says Judy Burckhardt, Ph.D., MAEd, MSN, RN, dean and professor, nursing programs at American Sentinel University. “She exemplifies the focus of our graduate nursing programs – to prepare working, professional nurses like Patrice to serve as leaders who improve patient outcomes. Her level of extraordinary patient care embodies our core values at American Sentinel.”
Dillow’s employer, CTCA at Midwestern praises her leadership skills and commitment to compassionate care.
“Pat Dillow personifies the definition of nursing. She is true giver and cares for her patients at a level that supports their physical and emotional needs,” said Jacklynn Lesniak, MS, BSN, RN, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at CTCA at Midwestern.
Dillow says she has a passion for nursing, and that is reflected in her extraordinary level of patient care.
“I entered nursing over 36 years ago to make a difference in people’s lives. Working at CTCA at Midwestern has given me the opportunity to be able to positively affect the lives of hundreds of patients in need of care,” says Dillow. “Working hand-in-hand with patients and my fellow nurses is what makes this profession so rewarding.”
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, Calif., 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 autoimmune disease. The care Barnes and his family received from nurses while he was ill helped inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
“When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. These unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at CTCA are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award,” said Bonnie Barnes, president, and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation.
Each quarter, a nurse is selected to receive the DAISY Award by an awards committee, comprised of CTCA at Midwestern nursing leadership and peers. At a presentation given in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors, the honoree receives a certificate commending them for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The honoree receives a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.
Learn more about the DAISY Foundation at http://daisyfoundation.org
About American Sentinel University
American Sentinel University delivers accredited online degree programs for nurses who want to complete a BSN degree or earn a master’s or DNP degree. The university also has accredited online degree programs in informatics and MBA HealthCare. Its affordable, flexible bachelor’s and master’s nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission for the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), of One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530, Washington, D.C., 20036. The DNP program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) of 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Ga., 30326. The university is accredited by the. American Sentinel University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, DEAC (Formerly Distance Education and Training Council-DETC), 1601 18th Street N.W., Suite 2, Washington D.C. 20009, (202) 234-5100, http://www.deac.org. For required student consumer information, please visit: http://www.americansentinel.edu/doe
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Renee Hewitt, American Sentinel University, http://www.americansentinel.edu/, +1 (845) 382-9152, [email protected]
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