By Box Butte General Hospital
Staff Nurse, Abbey Reeves RN of Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) was recently honored with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of The DAISY Foundation’s international program that recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary and compassionate care nurses provide every day.
Abbey’s nomination reads:
“I would like to nominate Abbey for the DAISY Award in recognition of the extraordinary care she provided to my dad during his knee replacement hospitalization. Abbey consistently demonstrated exceptional compassion, patience and attentiveness. She took extra time to ensure my dad was as comfortable as possible, never rushing through his care despite how busy the unit may have been. What stood out most was her ability to anticipate his needs and reinforce important safety measures in a way that was both kind and effective. My dad is hard of hearing, and Abbey made a deliberate effort to speak clearly and at a volume he could understand, ensuring he never felt confused or left out of his own care."
"She repeatedly and gently reminded him to use the call light before getting up, explaining why it was critical for his safety, even when he felt capable of walking on his own. Her patience in repeating these instructions—without ever showing frustration—made a lasting impression on our family. Abbey’s kindness extended beyond my dad. She showed genuine care and compassion toward my mom as well, taking time to reassure her and include her in the process. During a stressful and vulnerable time, Abbey brought comfort, dignity and trust into our experience."
"Abbey truly embodies what it means to be a nurse. She went above and beyond in every interaction, and because of her, my dad’s hospital stay was safer, more comfortable and filled with compassion. We are incredibly grateful for her care and believe she is highly deserving of this recognition.”
Abbey has dedicated her career to caring for others for more than 20 years. She has served as a Registered Nurse (RN) for 10 years after previously working as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for two years and a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for 12 years. Although she gained experience at other facilities and nursing homes, she chose to work at BBGH because she, “wanted the opportunity to work for a facility that takes pride in providing the best care to patients.” She shared that her passion for nursing has always centered around helping people during some of the most difficult moments in their lives.
“Many times, you meet people at their worst, but somehow just a small gesture of kindness can bring comfort to the patient and their family,” said Abbey.
“These are the moments that make nursing worth it to me.”
“Abbey’s compassionate care and dedication to her patients reflect the mission and values we strive to live every day in our hospital,” said Erica Lauder, Chief Nursing Officer at BBGH. “She consistently demonstrates excellence, integrity, teamwork, compassion, devotion and safety through the way she cares for patients and supports families during vulnerable moments. We are proud to recognize Abbey with this well-deserved honor, and we are grateful for the impact she makes on our patients, our organization and our community.”
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. 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. 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.
"When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation, said. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at BBGH are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 4,600 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of direct care Nurses, Nurse-led Teams, Nurse Leaders, Nurses Advancing Health Equity, Nursing Faculty, Nursing Students, Lifetime Achievement in Nursing and through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, Medical Mission Grants their new Health Equity Grant program.
To nominate a BBGH nurse for the DAISY Award and to see past recipients, please visit https://www.bbgh.org/about-us/past-employee-recognition/