McLaren Greater Lansing nurse Katie Boutel was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the exceptional care nurses provide every day.
The nomination, submitted by a colleague, read as follows: “Katie demonstrated exceptional commitment by volunteering to work additional hours on a highly demanding Saturday in the operating room (OR). This proactive approach enabled us to deliver exceptional care to multiple patients efficiently, mitigating the potential strain on the OR staff. Furthermore, Katie diligently investigates upcoming scheduled cases and has identified patient comorbidities that may have impacted their surgical care. She contributes to our team’s ability to provide high quality care and mitigate potential complications. She is engaging with staff and physicians and has implemented several process improvement projects assuring safety checks are being done appropriately on every patient.”
The nominator went on to say, “Katie motivates her peers to always speak up and do what is right in the department. She is a true leader in the surgical services department for staff and surgeons. She encompasses ‘teamwork’ values (McLaren Greater Lansing’s values: trust, excellence, accountability, motivation, welcoming, organization, respect, and kindness) with her positivity and helpfulness and inspires staff to do the same.”
Boutel was recognized by hospital leadership and coworkers as she received a certificate commending her for being an “Extraordinary Nurse” and a sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona people in Zimbabwe.
Boutel has worked at McLaren for six years, and said she always wanted to be a nurse since she was young as it’s been in her nature to help others.
Boutel, who was honored during McLaren Greater Lansing’s Nurses Week celebrations stated, “I was very surprised and was not expecting this. Every nurse should be recognized in their lifetime for the extraordinary work they do, so I feel very honored.”
About the DAISY Award
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation, based in Glen Ellen, California, was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes 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 inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families.
“When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced firsthand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” said Bonnie Barnes, president and co-founder of the DAISY Foundation. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the superhuman work they do. The kind of work the nurses at McLaren Greater Lansing are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of the DAISY Award.”