Photo submitted to Times Observer Warren General Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Joe Akif (left) and Nursing Manager Kelle Bari (right) celebrate Daisy Award Winner Kerri Sturdevant, RN.

An inpatient medical surgical nurse at Warren General Hospital is the most recent winner of the hospital’s DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse.

Registered Nurse Kerri Sturdevant is the hospital’s 14th DAISY recipient.

The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day, according to a WGH release.

Sturdevant was nominated by the son of a patient.

“I brought my 91-year-old father to the emergency room,” Dean McKibbin said. “He had jaundice and was in severe pain.”

Even so, “it was difficult to get him to agree to come to the hospital,” McKibbin said.

“That night, he almost died,” he said. “The next day, he was transferred to a room on the med-surg unit.”

“While I appreciate all the care that Dad received, I want to give a special thank you to Kerry Sturdevant,” he said. “It was not an easy time for us. She was always pleasant and helpful when I would ask her a question or needed help. We found her very pleasant to deal with.”

“One example was on Saturday, when we were unaware that the cafeteria was closed,” McKibbin said. “She got me a coffee. When I had trouble with the vending machine, she got my wife a salad for lunch.”

“When my dad would not eat his meal at night from the cafeteria, she asked him what he wanted and then got him mashed potatoes and gravy — which he did eat,” he said.

“The bottom line is that people like Kerri who who compassion to both patient and family make a terrible experience more bearable,” he said. “I hope she sees this and knows how much we appreciate her kindness.”

Nurses may be nominated for the award by patients, families, and colleagues. Recipients are chosen from among the nominees by a committee at Warren General Hospital.

Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors.

Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him as an “Extraordinary Nurse.”

The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.”

Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

WGH Chief Nursing Officer Joe Akif said, “We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in The DAISY Award program. Nurses are heroes every day. It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly-valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that.”

“Congratulations Kerri Sturdevant RN, Warren General Hospital is honored to have an exceptional nurse like you, working here.”