University of Michigan Health-Sparrow honors nurse with DAISY Award for compassionate care 

LANSING, Mich. – University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Lansing recently honored a highly skilled nurse with the DAISY Award for her extraordinary, compassionate care, outstanding nursing skills and for putting patients first.

Surgical Specialties nurse Keysha Johnson, RN, was named a DAISY Award honoree based on a nomination from a patient for her highly skilled care, stating she treated him with the same quality care and dignity as she would a relative or close friend.

“From our first meeting, I felt that she put my well-being in the forefront,” said patient James Shipman. “While she was finishing her shifts, she made time to comfort me before she left. And though we did not need it, she even offered to drive me home because my wife’s car broke down. It made me feel appreciated, like she valued me as a person.”

Johnson has worked on the surgical specialties unit at UM Health-Sparrow Lansing for the past five years, growing into an exceptional nurse who takes the time to make a personal connection with her patient.

“All the complicated and life saving measures we do daily are expected in our line of work,” Johnson said.. “It's the little things that the patients remember from you.”

The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary, compassionate, and skillful care given by nurses every day.

“Keysha is always ready to greet her patients with a warm smile and it’s not unusual for her to spend part of her shift sitting with a patient and sharing coffee to get to know them better,” said surgical specialties department Manager Nicole Brasfield MSN, R.N., CBN. “Keysha exemplifies compassion, dedication and hard work.”

Johnson received a certificate of recognition, a DAISY pin to wear at work, and beautiful serpentine stone sculpture carved by the artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. The special “Healer’s Touch” sculpture depicts the relationship nurses have with their patients.

          Nurses and nursing leaders are nominated for the award throughout the year by patients and patients’ families.

          To learn more about the DAISY Award, go to UofMHealthSparrow.org/DAISY.

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University of Michigan Health-Sparrow is Mid-Michigan’s premier healthcare organization and includes hospitals in Lansing, Carson City, Charlotte, Ionia and St. Johns, as well as Sparrow Specialty Hospital, Sparrow Care Network, Sparrow Medical Group, the Michigan Athletic Club, and AL!VE. Sparrow is part of University of Michigan Health. Through the dedication of our 10,000 caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and patient experience. For more information, visit Sparrow.org.