Emergency Room Care Results in Daisy Award Patient Honors Salinas Valley Health Nurse

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
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A patient at Salinas Valley Health watched via live video stream as the emergency room nurse who cared for her received a Daisy Award for extraordinary care. More than two dozen of her colleagues gathered in the ER for a ceremony that honored Audrie Ferreira, RN. The patient who nominated Audrie for the special recognition watched the award presentation using FaceTime. It was an emotional moment for both women.

“I teared up listening to the letter Angelica wrote nominating me for the award,” said Audrie Ferreira, RN. “The plaque and Daisy Award statue are totally unexpected. I knew we had a special bond. It was like caring for a family member.”

Audrie has been a nurse at Salinas Valley Health for 14 years and has spent the last five in the fast paced emergency room department. The ER team sees serious and urgent medical needs come through the doors, many rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Earlier this year, one of those patients was Angelica Plascencia, who says she went to the ER feeling worried and in severe pain. Angelina wrote in a letter, “After fainting and getting admitted, I woke up to a large group of healthcare professionals surrounding me. Although I was afraid and still in pain I felt safe, cared for and important. Mainly due to Audrie, who kept me informed every step of the way. She listened to me and acted fast.”

Audrie says she recognized Angelica heightened fear and treated her like she was one of her own family members. It seems even that nuance in the skilled and compassionate care Audrie delivered was felt by her patient.

“The next day she came to my room in the observation unit,” Angelina recounted in her Daisy Award nomination letter. “At that time I had had surgery and was stable. When she came in, I broke in tears and saw tears in her eyes too. I believe she cared for me as if I was family to her.” There were tears again during the recent award ceremony.

The Daisy Award is a nationwide initiative recognizing nursing professionals who provide especially exceptional and compassionate care. Every month, Salinas Valley Health recognizes an outstanding employee with a Daisy Award (for nurses) or a STAR Award (for all staff). Nominations can be submitted by patients, visitors and staff. Nomination forms and drop boxes are located throughout the hospital.

Other November Daisy Award nominees are Cristina Araujo, RN I – ONS; Michael Jarschke, RN II – Emergency Dept; Jessica Lemus, RN II – Labor & Delivery; Marnie Posecion, RN II – Emergency Dept

Denyse Sanchez, RN II – ONC; Jessica Schloemer, RN II – ICU/CCU. To learn more about the awards visit Nurse Recognition | Salinas Valley Health or STAR Award | Monterey County Health System (SalinasValleyHealth.com).

Editor note: Photo attached: Left to right: Christi McGuire, RN, Chief nursing Operator; Jeremy Hadland, RN, ED Clinical Manager; Audrie Ferreira, RN, ED Staff Nurse;

Carla Spencer, RN, ED Nursing Director