Brittany Clark, RN, of Baptist Health Senior Care Behavioral Health-Fort Smith recently received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
Clark was nominated for the award after spending several hours with an elderly patient who was upset and disoriented upon admission to the hospital. Clark calmed the patient and even accompanied the patient the next morning during a CT scan to ensure the patient felt comfortable. The Panama, Ok. native has a background in psychiatric nursing and joined Baptist Health-Fort Smith in 2017.
“Brittany’s experience with Crisis Prevention Training and her compassion make her an excellent nurse,” said Crystal Lougin, MS, LPC, director of behavioral health, Baptist Health-Fort Smith. “She recognizes when patients are in emotional distress, and in this case, was able to help her coworkers provide care for the whole patient, both body and mind.”
Clark serves as nurse at Baptist Health Senior Care Behavioral Health-Fort Smith, which is a 23-bed inpatient unit dedicated to patients over the age of 55 who suffer from the early stages of depression, psychological disorders, and other mental health issues.
The goal of the DAISY Foundation’s program is to inspire nurses to provide exemplary care and applaud them for their compassion and skill. Recipients of the DAISY Award are given a congratulatory banner to be hung in their unit until the next award is given, a plaque and DAISY pin, and a Healer’s Touch sculpture handcrafted in Zimbabwe. Patients and their family members can nominate nurses who they feel deserve recognition for their outstanding care.
Pictured, left to right, are Stephanie Whitaker, MSN, RN, vice president of patient care and chief nursing executive, Clark, and Crystal Lougin, MS, LPC, director of Behavioral health, Baptist Health-Fort Smith.