PLATTSBURGH — When a patient is dying, that person’s comfort and final wishes are of the utmost importance.
A local family witnessed one nurse’s dedication to that compassionate care, and that is why Ashleigh Leavine, RN was recognized as the latest recipient of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH).
Leavine was presented the award during a surprise ceremony with her colleagues.
“My father-in-law was lucky enough to have Ashleigh as his nurse in his last hours of life,” writes Tristina Gregware in her nomination of Leavine. Gregware is a nurse on the hospital’s perioperative services team.
“She was an exceptional nurse and an even better advocate to ensure that my father-in-law remained comfortable at the end of his life,” Gregware continues.
Her father-in-law was transferred to CVPH’s Emergency Department (ED) for aspiration pneumonia. The ED team worked to create a space in a quiet room on the fifth floor, where Leavine was working the overnight shift.
Gregware says Leavine, who has been with the hospital for more than a decade, could immediately tell that he was uncomfortable with a fast respiratory rate and labored breathing.
“She worked quickly to get him medicated. Within 30 minutes, he was resting comfortably,” she recalls.
With each passing hour, her father-in-law required medication more often and the doses were not working. Gregware watched on as Leavine continued to monitor and assess him, strongly advocating for what was best for her patient while honoring his wishes throughout the night.
As night turned to morning, Gregware’s father-in-law took his final breaths. Despite her despair in the moment, she realized just what Leavine had given him and the entire family. She says he was able to pass comfortably and with his family by his side. He did not suffer and was constantly being cared for by Leavine.
“Her compassion, integrity and willingness to listen to her patient and his family was unparalleled. Our family only wanted to ensure his comfort, and Ashleigh made sure that happened,” Gregware remembers.
“Her biggest asset is that she’s an advocate for her patients and their loved ones, and that is clear not just in this instance, but every single shift she works,” adds Nicole Daniels, RN, Nurse Manager on R5, which regularly cares for patients reaching the end of their lives. “She’s willing to have the difficult conversations, whether it is with the family or providers to make sure every patient’s final wishes are honored.”
During the award presentation, Leavine was presented with a certificate commending her as an extraordinary nurse. She, like all honorees, also received a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.
CVPH launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2018 as a way to recognize and reward licensed nurses for making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients. Nomination forms and boxes are located at each of the hospital’s main entrances and online at UVMHealth.org/CVPHDaisy. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. A committee reviews nominations and awards a deserving nurse each quarter.
The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. The DAISY Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family.
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 (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System).
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. More information is available at DAISYfoundation.org.