Onancock, Va –New mom, Maggie Thompson, was “scared, disappointed and tired” when she found out that she would need an emergency c-section after spending 30 hours trying to deliver her baby. But the potentially stressful situation was instead positive and uplifting due to the skillful and compassionate care from Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital (RSMH) nurse Leslie Escalante, RN.
“I was so lucky to have Leslie on what was one of the scariest nights of my life,” said Thompson, who praised Escalante’s calm manner while addressing any concerns she had and answering “question after question from me, my husband and my family.”
Escalante’s concern for her patient didn’t stop there. She made sure that Thompson’s wishes after delivery were taken care of as well. “She earned my trust and never let me down.”
Left to Right: Donna Stufft, Shane Thompson and son, Maggie Thompson, Leslie Escalante, Ann Pruitt
This dedication to patient care has earned Escalante RSMH’s second DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, which was created by the National DAISY Foundation to recognize “outstanding clinical skill, personal acts of kindness and compassion to patients and families.” The first ever DAISY Award given out at RSMH went to nurse Lee Johnson in the ICU at the end of 2017.
“I was speechless when I learned of the nomination and award. For patients and family to take the time to write a nomination and show up for the award presentation meant so much,” said Escalante, who has been with RSMH in its Mother/Baby Unit for nearly a year. “As a nurse you know you’re making a difference, but this has shown me just how much of an impact we can make on our patient’s lives.”
“We chose to recognize Leslie’s patient care because it perfectly illustrates how excellent nursing takes care of both the clinical and emotional needs of the patient, said Deborah Brown, MBA, BSN, Nurse Executive at RSMH. “A personal connection from a nurse can make a huge and lasting impact on the lives of our patients and their families.”
While the award recognizes extraordinary nursing, Escalante insists it’s all in a day’s work. “I just did what I always do. I treat patients the way I would want to be treated,” she said.
As a DAISY recipient, Escalante received special recognition at the hospital. Along with cinnamon rolls, which are a DAISY Foundation tradition, she received a special hand-carved “Healer’s Touch” stone sculpture.
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