OPELIKA, Ala.—Being a nurse takes compassion, strength and a willingness to serve. East Alabama Health nurses Kathy Thrower, Edwina Segrest, Amanda Thaxton and Lacey Powell were each honored recently with a DAISY award for their dedication to exemplifying those traits.
DAISY awards are given to extraordinary nurses for their dedication to going above and beyond to provide patients and their families with exceptional care and compassion. To become a DAISY honoree, nurses must be nominated by a patient, family member, health care professional or someone else who has experienced their dedication to providing high-quality, compassionate health care.
Honorees are recognized at surprise ceremonies held to thank them for the impact they make on the lives of their patients and coworkers. The recipient receives a DAISY certificate, hand-carved “Healer’s Touch” sculpture from Zimbabwe, honoree pin and is added to a list of honored nurses on the DAISY website.
Kathy Thrower
Thrower, who has worked for East Alabama Health for 30 years, currently serves as a house supervisor at EAMC-Lanier in Valley.
As house supervisor, she is responsible for responding to codes, caring for patients, managing staffing and a variety of other tasks to keep the hospital running smoothly. Needless to say, Thrower’s dedication has earned her the respect of not only her patients, but also of her co-workers and physicians.
“Kathy is the definition of a DAISY nurse,” said Melanie Mooney, director of Nursing Services at EAMC-Lanier. “She is a very skilled and dedicated nurse who is a patient advocate and provides our patients with the best quality of care.”
Edwina Segrest
For over 20 years, Segrest has cared for patients and mentored young nurses in the Emergency Department at East Alabama Medical Center. Her coworkers would testify that she is the “matriarch” of the department, and no matter if you are a patient or colleague, she will always provide you with compassion, support and attention.
During her DAISY award ceremony, Segrest’s colleagues and coworkers shared stories about the exceptional patient care she provides, and the impact she has made on their lives and careers.
Gwen Parker, a nurse supervisor in the Emergency Department, reflected on the guidance Segrest provided her with as she began her career.
“She took me under her wing and poured her knowledge of the department into me, along with excellent nursing care, knowledge and skills,” Parker said. “Edwina views our department as her family, and she is going to stand up for that family no matter what.
“That family includes nurses, techs, physicians, students, EVS workers, paramedics, patients and patient families.”
Amanda Thaxton
Thaxton serves as a nurse in the procedural float pool at EAMC, meaning that her dedication to serving her patients extends to various departments. Thaxton’s coworkers, family and friends gathered for a surprise ceremony honoring her with The DAISY Award.
“I’m speechless, and I’m overwhelmed, but I absolutely love what I do and all of our patients,” Thaxton said. “I love this organization. This is my home.”
Lacey Powell
Lacey Powell, a nurse at Endocrinology and Metabolism of East Alabama, was honored with a DAISY Award on May 16. She was recognized by her colleagues for her consistency in going above and beyond for her patients and providing each of them with high-quality, compassionate health care.
One of Lacey’s colleagues, Chelsea Zimmerman, a pediatric endocrinologist, offered some special words about Lacey’s dedication to patients.
In her nomination, Dr. Zimmerman said, “Lacey is a dedicated nurse who is truly invested in helping our patients…Even when sick or having other personal or family needs arise, she ensures that we and our patients have everything needed. I would not be able to do my job successfully without Lacey.”
About East Alabama Health
East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier in Valley, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinics and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 314-bed regional referral hospital, while EAMC-Lanier provides inpatient services as well as a nursing home, an acute rehab unit, a senior behavioral health unit and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 3,800 people and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University. For more information, visit www.eastalabamahealth.org.
About The DAISY Award
The DAISY Award is given nationally and internationally to outstanding nurses who provide exceptional care for their patients. Recipients are nominated by someone who has experienced their dedication to providing high-quality, compassionate health care. An acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, the DAISY Foundation was formed by the family of Patrick Barnes, who died at 33, to offer gratitude to outstanding nurses.
