Extraordinary Emergency Department Nurse Recognized at Mon Health Medical Center

Samantha Lyons, Emergency Department RN at Mon Health Medical Center
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses Honoree

Samantha Lyons, RN, of Mon Health Medical Center was recently honored with The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses. Awarded to nurses quarterly at Mon Health Medical Center, The DAISY Award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day. 

The nomination submitted from one of Samantha’s patients read, “I brought my 77-year-old father to the Emergency Department. He was clearly struggling and needed intense, supportive care. Samantha was the most caring nurse I’ve encountered in my life. She cared for my dad in such a way that he was not only getting the medical care, but the compassion he needed. He was at his worst, and she cared for him with dignity and such kindness, patiently explaining even the most urgent procedure to him. But that’s not all – as my mother and I struggled to accept the severity of his situation, she comforted us and cared for us as much as for my dad. On what seemed like the worst day of our lives, she was so kind and loving towards all three of us. She offered so much of her heart to us to ease our pain. I don’t wish our situation on any family, but if someone must go through it, I want them all to have a nurse like Samantha.”

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, 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 auto-immune disease. The care Patrick 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 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,” said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Mon Health Medical Center are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.” 

Samantha is a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department and has worked for Mon Health Medical Center since 2016. 

“I want to treat all of my patients how I would want my family to be treated when coming to the hospital,” Samantha said. “Coming to the Emergency Room is usually an unexpected and scary experience, but it’s the nurses, physicians, and ancillary staff who make it easier for our patients through the care that we provide.”

“Our Emergency Department staff put their heart and soul into what they do regardless of the circumstance, and we are fortunate to have nurses like Samantha. She is an incredible representation of our team and is extremely deserving of this prestigious International Nursing Award,” said Krystal Atkinson, Chief Nursing Executive at Mon Health System. 

Nurses can be nominated by anyone who has been affected by their care – patients, family members, other nurses, physicians, other clinicians, and staff – anyone who has experienced or observed extraordinary, compassionate care being provided by a nurse. Say thank you to a nurse and nominate the for the DAISY Award by visiting MonHealth.com/DAISY. To learn more about the DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses, visit https://DAISYFoundation.org.