FORT SMITH, Ark. – 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, Oklahoma, 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 honored with 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. Nomination letters can be placed in designated DAISY Award drop-off boxes throughout the hospital or mailed to Baptist Health-Fort Smith, Attn: Kristi Lokey, Clinical Research, 1001 Towson Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901.
Baptist Health is Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization with more than 200 points of access that include 11 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community and over 100 primary and specialty care clinics in Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. The system additionally offers a college with studies in nursing and allied health; a graduate residency program; and access to virtual care anytime, anywhere. Baptist Health, as the largest not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, provides care to patients wherever they are through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. For more information about Baptist Health, visit baptist-health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
