Northside Hospital recognizes employees who show extraordinary care to patients with the DAISY and BEE awards each month.
Nurses are recognized with the DAISY Award for showing above-and-beyond care to patients. Patients and their families, along with the nurses’ co-workers, have the chance to recognize these nurses for care that makes a difference.
BEE Awards — which stand for Being Extraordinary Every day — are given to staff members outside the nursing field who personify Northside’s goal to provide excellence in the patient experience. The award echoes the DAISY Award because every DAISY needs a BEE.
Meet recent winners of the DAISY Award at Northside:
Sara Hendow, R.N., Northside Hospital Forsyth
What they’re saying: “My wife and I have been in Northside many times during the past 10 years. I have to say that there was never a time when we were disappointed with the care we received in Northside. I can’t say that for many other hospitals across the country. But there comes a time when someone rises to a level of excellence well beyond expectation. Sara’s care for me excelled anything I expected. … I am so impressed with Sara Hendow and am certain she deserves this award and I sincerely hope she is recognized for her unmatched service and care.”
Mackenzie Micheletti, BSN, R.N. CCRN, TCRN, Northside Hospital Gwinnett
What they’re saying: “She shows extraordinary dedication and compassion to her patients and their families. … She fostered a culture of giving among staff and together the Critical Care Department was able to gift the (patient’s) family a very special Christmas consisting of gifts for the patient and her family, medical supply donations from Medline and MoInlycke, and a donation toward their goal of a handicap-accessible van. More importantly, she was able to show that the care of a nurse goes far beyond the date of discharge.”
Theodora Ngonda, R.N., Cath Lab, Northside Hospital Cherokee
What they’re saying: “After Theo came out to the waiting area and brought me back, she started going over my mom’s chart and took time to connect the dots from her previous procedure. She had a warm smile on her face and was telling my mom she looked far too young to be there, joking with her and lifting her spirits. That moment completely shifted the energy in the room. Theo’s presence made a read difference, not just for my mom, but for me as well. Her compassion, warmth, and professionalism turned a stressful situation into something manageable and even uplifting.”
Emily Zwijacz, R.N., Northside Hospital Atlanta
What they’re saying: “Emily brought energy and joy into what had been a bleak room. She was skilled at her job and was patient and deeply knowledgeable with her trainee — showing how to do things and allowing her also to gain experience doing things herself. Emily’s confidence made me feel so confident in the care they were providing. She was also so engaging, making sure to really communicate with my father-in-law despite the cognitive and physical challenges that make that difficult even on a good day.”
Meet recent winners of the BEE Award at Northside:
Kate Jackson, patient care technician, Northside Atlanta
What they’re saying: “This PCT provided excellent care to my mother during her stay and transition to hospice. … Immediately when she was with us, we felt like we knew her because she made us so comfortable. She is a ray of sunshine, and her compassion and empathy radiate. She takes care of business and does it in a way that made me feel like my mom was in great hands.”
Marie Sasso, P.T., Northside Forsyth
What they’re saying: “I am nominating Marie because of the professionalism, sincerity, thoroughness, patience and resilience she displayed when performing her observation of my brother, the patient. … The effects of the drugs he was experiencing along with his desperate mental state and the pain he was experiencing were all taking a toll on him. Marie never wavered even slightly while she attempted to obtain information from my brother as she simultaneously performed testing. … She is a consummate professional and obviously an asset to your hospital staff.”
John Teah, behavioral health technician III, Northside Gwinnett
What they’re saying: “He shows up every shift with the goal of making a difference in his patients’ lives. He meets this goal each and every day. It is easy to see that he cares for his patients. The patients feel his caring attitude and they in turn respond favorably … He should be the ‘poster cover’ for a perfect example of Northside service standards.”
Learn more about the DAISY and BEE awards.
Pictured at top: Mackenzie Micheletti, BSN, R.N., winner of the DAISY Award from Northside Hospital Gwinnett in May.
