James “Kip” Gravel, BSN, RN, has been recognized as a Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) DAISY Award recipient.
The DAISY Award is sponsored by the DAISY Foundation and recognizes nurses who consistently demonstrate in their work the following attributes: compassion; critical thinking skills; passion about life; patient- and family-focused care; patient advocacy; support of all healthcare team members; and nursing profession role model.
Gravel joined the CMMC nursing staff in 2016. He was nominated by a fellow co-worker. The nomination story also had many quotes from his patients and their families.
Compassionate, positive and caring are just some of the words co-workers use to describe Gravel, who is also a strong patient advocate for those in his care. When asked about what keeps him as a CMMC team member he responded, “I enjoy the patients, and I care about those I work with. It’s not always about money, but it is working with all of these people that makes me want to stay.”
One patient said, “As I gained strength [Gravel] encouraged my independence. He took me down to my labs to expedite my health. He treated everyone with dignity. [Gravel] used humor to ease frustrating times and thought outside the box while staying safe.”
Gravel’s compassionate care and upbeat attitude make him a wonderful addition to the Central Maine Healthcare team.
The DAISY Award was established in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at 33 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. DAISY is an acronym for “diseases attacking the immune system”. The foundation is headquartered in Glen Ellen, Calif.
The DAISY Award was created to show gratitude to the nursing profession, because the Barnes family believed that nurses are truly “unsung heroes”. The DAISY Foundation says the program “honors the super human work nurses do at the bedside each and every day.” The foundation also funds research for the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects.
Patients, visitors, physicians, and co-workers can nominate nurses who they feel deserve to be recognized with the DAISY Award.