Mercy ICU nurse awarded for care she provided patients

Lynn Williams, an intensive care unit nurse at Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers, received the Daisy Award after the families of two patients witnessed the “exceptional care” she provided. On Monday (Oct. 23), Charlotte Rankin, the hospital’s chief operating officer and chief nursing officer, gave the award to Williams in a surprise ceremony in which several of Williamas’ family attended.

Family members of the patients nominated Williams, and the wife of one of the patients said Williams checked on the patient’s husband on her day off. In her nomination letter, she wrote “[Williams] exemplifies every aspect of your standards. She explained procedures beforehand and did so professionally and while being personable. She has a human approach at a time when patient and family need it most.”

Williams’ patience and sense of humor was noted in another nomination letter. “We’ve named Lynn our lady of perpetual motion with amazing grace,” the letter showed. “She’s made our time with my husband in the ICU bearable. She combines knowledge with compassion, explaining why things are done. She has handled my hard headed husband with a velvet hammer — with just the right amount of humor.”

Between June and September, Mercy received 36 Daisy Award nominations, and Williams was selected by Mercy’s Daisy Award selection committee. The award was established by the family of Patrick Barnes in memory of the care he received before he died in 1999. Award winners receive a certificate, pin, sculpture and Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, which were Barnes’ favorite.