UPMC Senior Communities Nurse Recognized With DAISY Award

December 29, 2023

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Kelly Nihart, LPN, Haven Place, a part of UPMC Senior Communities, was recently recognized as a recipient of the DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses.

Nihart was nominated by a co-worker who shared:

“I have had the pleasure of working with Kelly for about a year now. Kelly continuously goes above and beyond her daily duties to ensure the residents of Haven Place are taken care of. She graciously picks up additional shifts on the weekends, assists on the floor when there are call offs, and takes initiative to do additional tasks without being asked. Kelly provides emotional support to residents, families, and staff. She truly wants the best for the residents. One example, is there was a resident recently who was constantly restless despite any interventions to help soothe them. Kelly would bring him down to her office for a little while where it was quiet, or she would walk with them. The resident loved to hold hands and Kelly would always hold their hand as they walked. She spoke up, as she would for all her residents, as an advocate for their care, and it had an impact on the resident’s care. Kelly has also taken the time on multiple occasions to show or teach me things. I am new to long-term care and there were so many aspects I didn't know. Any time I have a question, I go right to her, and she normally has an answer, if she doesn't, she knows exactly who to go to. Kelly is always the go-to person when an audit needs to be done, order sets need updated or assisting in boosting staff morale.”

The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 in California by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of 33 from complications of an auto-immune disease. During his eight-week hospital stay, his family was impressed by the care and compassion his nurses provided, not only to him but to everyone in the family. They created the DAISY Award in his memory to recognize those nurses who make a big difference in the lives of so many people.

UPMC is proud to be a DAISY Award partner. Nurses are nominated by patients, family members of patients, as well as other healthcare professionals. DAISY Awards are presented to nurses at UPMC in North Central Pa. monthly. Each DAISY Award Honoree is given a DAISY Award pin, a certificate of honor, and a stone sculpture entitled, A Healer’s Touch, handcrafted by a tribe in Zimbabwe. Anyone can nominate a nurse for the award including co-workers, patients, patient family members, or physicians. To nominate a nurse, visit UPMC.com/ThankaNurse.