Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan., continues to honor its extraordinary nurses with the DAISY Award. The hospital’s most recent DAISY Award winner is Judy Franiuk, R.N., B.S.N., Intensive Care Unit.Franiuk was selected from a field of registered nurses nominated by patients, families, co-workers, physicians and volunteers at the hospital.
In a Providence tradition, she received a crown of daisies, as well as a certificate commending her for being an “extraordinary nurse.”
She also received a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.
Cinnabons also were given to all the nurses on her unit thanking them for everything they do for their patients and families.
Franiuk was nominated for the honor by the husband of one of her patients. In his nomination, he described her as demonstrating the mastery of her craft.
“Judy always seemed to be one step ahead of every crisis and you could tell that the doctors respected her advice and listened to her recommendations,” the nomination said. “But her technical competency was exceeded by her interpersonal skills. She was concerned and compassionate and gained our complete confidence from the start. She cared for my wife, her patient, me and my family. We now lovingly refer to her as ‘Saint Judy’ for the unparalleled care she delivered.”
Franiuk recalls this specific patient and family and says the experiences she gained from caring for them have had a lasting impact on her nursing practice.
“I was very surprised and touched to receive the DAISY award,” Franiuk says. “It’s wonderful to know that this family took the time to recognize me for the care I provided, but we are very much a team here in the ICU. I feel fortunate to have such excellent role models to look up to, including Patty Ingraham, who was my preceptor on the unit, and Debbie Berkley, who is my supervisor.”
Franiuk joined Providence in 2010, following in her grandmother’s footsteps.
“My grandmother, who also is named Judy Franiuk, worked at Providence as a nurse for 30-plus years, retiring from here, so I feel very comfortable at the hospital,” she says. She received her bachelor’s of science in nursing from Avila College, Kansas City, Mo.
Franiuk serves as co-chair of the hospital’s Nursing Task Force and is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She resides in Kansas City, Mo.
Providence continues to honor extraordinary nurses throughout the year, presenting the DAISY quarterly.
The hospital encourages patients, visitors, nurses, physicians, employees and volunteers to nominate a registered nurse for the award.
Nomination forms are available on nursing units, in physician lounges, main waiting areas and online at www.providence-health.org/pmc/daisyaward.
