7 North staff nurse receives DAISY Award

Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Department of Nursing recently honored 7 North staff nurse Kalliope Fabrikarakis, with a DAISY Award.

Fabrikarakis was nominated by fellow 7 North nurse Kate Feeley on account of her compassion, thoughtfulness and empathy, especially when caring for a recent patient. In her nomination letter, Feeley wrote:

"I have had the privilege to work alongside Kalli for over 3 years on 7 North. About two years ago, we had a patient admitted on our floor for a few weeks whom nursing staff grew to love. This patient would sit in the hall daily, dancing in her chair to Frank Sinatra with nursing staff. Fast forward to April 2020, this same patient was admitted back to our floor, but this time as a COVID positive patient. As you can imagine, it was heartbreaking for nursing to see this patient who we loved so ill, and to know she would be in her room, and not at the nursing station where we knew she loved to be. The patient was requiring a high amount of oxygen supplementation, and there was talk about her going to comfort measures. Kalli, not even being the patients primary nurse, continued to go and check on this patient throughout her shifts, hold her hand and talk to her. One afternoon Kalli thought, “Well, she loved Frank, let me play some for her." Kalli left her phone in the patient's room all day to a playlist of Frank Sinatra. During that time, the patient’s primary nurse was able to successfully decrease the amount of oxygen the patient was requiring. The music was relaxing the patient and able to help her heal from this terrible virus. I am happy to report that the patient was able to be safely discharged back to her home. We go to school to learn how to be a nurse medically. The care, compassion, and empathy that Kalli showed to not only this patient, but all of her patients is something that you have naturally. Her patients are so lucky to have her as their nurse, and we are so lucky to have her as our co-worker."

The award was presented to Kalli by nursing colleagues and members of leadership, along with members of BWFH's Rewards and Recognition Committee. "Receiving the award meant much more to me than just on a personal level – I am continuously inspired by my colleagues to give the most compassionate care I can," says Kalli. "As a result of COVID, it’s that much more vital to make sure patients are feeling cared for, even from behind our PPE. I hope my unit knows this award is in congratulations to us all and the nursing care we provide as a team."

The DAISY Award, established by the DAISY Foundation, is named in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at the age of 33 from Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), an auto-immune disease. The Barnes Family was inspired by the care that Patrick received and established this unique program to recognize and thank the nurses nationwide who make a profound difference in the lives of their patients and families.

To learn more about the DAISY Foundation, visit daisyfoundation.org.

BWFH DAISY nurses consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinarily compassionate care. They are recognized as outstanding role models in our nursing community and make a profound difference in the lives of their patients and their family members. Patients, visitors, nurses, physicians and employees may nominate a deserving nurse by completing a nomination online.