South Georgia Medical Center presented Ivelisse Sayre with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses for February. The award is part of the international DAISY Foundation, a program developed to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform everyday.
 
Sayre was nominated by her colleague who wrote, “Last August, Ivelisse selflessly and kindheartedly put aside her own work obligations and touched the lives of a patient and his family, and several SGMC staff members, myself included." The nomination continued to describe how Sayre helped a family experiencing the unexpected loss of their loved one.
 
According to the nomination, “Ivelisse knelt by the wife's side and held her hand. In a language I could not understand, she prayed with the family so lovingly fierce, it brought goosebumps to my skin and tears to my eyes. More importantly, she brought compassion; understanding and acceptance without intimidation.”
 
Sayre has been with SGMC for 15 years. Most recently, Sayre transitioned to SGMC’s Epic department, where she helped develop and implement a new electronic health record system.
 
Throughout the health system, SGMC continues to ask patients and fellow employees to honor nurses they feel go above and beyond in their care. Nominations are reviewed by a committee based on criteria that include compassion, teamwork, leadership, attitude, and skills and knowledge.
 
DAISY awards are presented monthly in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors. Each honoree receives a certificate commending him or her for being an “Extraordinary Nurse” and a sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.