News

Contact: Rebecca Green

Sterling, IL (February 11, 2019) - Melissa Cassens, a registered nurse in the CGH Birthing Center, was recently recognized in front of a large group of friends, family and co-workers, as a recipient of the prestigious DAISY Award for extraordinary nurses. An international program, the award is presented to nurses around the world who go above and beyond for their patients and demonstrate extraordinary compassionate care.

“Despite this being my second pregnancy and child, Melissa treated it as though it was my first,” said the patient’s nomination for Cassens. “She made sure to complete thorough education with myself and my significant other…and provided a comfortable setting to ask questions without feeling as if I should have known the answers since this was my second child. She helped provide one-on-one care for breastfeeding and shared tips that she had from being a mother herself.”

“At one point during her shift,” the patient continued, “she knew they were going to get busy with admissions for laboring mothers, so Melissa took the time to come in and check on me and introduce me to the CNA who would listen for my call light…I knew the ­department was busy, but you would not have known it, as Melissa always had a smile on her face and was very caring…Melissa is compassionate about her job and the care she provides, and it shows with her actions to her patients and their family.”

The DAISY Award - an acronym for “Diseases Attacking the Immune System” - was established by the DAISY Foundation in California in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 of an autoimmune disease. During his hospitalization, they deeply appreciated the care and compassion shown to Patrick and his entire family. When he died, they felt compelled to say “thank you” to nurses in a very public way. The DAISY Award continues to recognize and celebrate the outstanding professionalism and compassion that nurses bring to patients and their families every day.

Other CGH nurses nominated by our patients for the DAISY award included: Ryan DeBrock, RN, DHC; Andrea Ferguson, RN, Main Clinic Ortho; Esther Whiles, LPN, Lynn Blvd, Family Practice; Cassie Sawyers, RN, Main Clinic, Rheumatology; Whitney Phillips, RN, Main Clinic, Internal Med; Marisa Rodriguez, RN, Obs Unit; Crystal Koster, RN, ASU; Erica Adams, RN, DID; Sandy Meyer, RN, Obs Unit; Brenda Pettorini, RN, IVT; Angie Tschosik, RN, CCU; Kaley Stangeland, RN, Downtown Clinic; Tonya Clayton, RN, Main Clinic, Coumadin Clinic; Ashley Scanlan, RN, Diabetic Educator; Heather Trotter, RN, CCU; Denise Zink, LPN, Main Clinic, Family Practice and Michelle Nelsen, RN, Main Clinic, Cardiology.

If you would like to submit a nomination for extraordinary nursing care that you or a family member have received at CGH Medical Center, please visit www.cghmc.com/daisy.

-CGH-