A registered mental health nurse from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust who treated her patient with ‘dignity and kindness’ at a challenging time has received the international DAISY Award for the outstanding compassionate care she provides to her patients.
Anjana Sajeev, mental health nurse, was nominated for the award for the care she provided to a vulnerable patient.
The DAISY Awards are an international recognition programme that honours and celebrates the exceptional care that many nurses and midwives provide every day.
The nomination, from the patient, reads: “I was suicidal, fighting an infection which could have led to me losing my leg and Anjana took the time to talk to me and convince me my life was valued and worth living.
“I had an accident in my bed which at 29 years old and has never happened before was mortifying. No problem, Anjana (younger than me) thought nothing of it made me feel at ease, changed the bedding and then helped me to shower. She treated me with so much dignity and kindness and went above and beyond to ensure I was okay.
“Anjana always has a smile on her face and takes everything in her stride, she deserves this award because although she will be ‘strict’ when the job needs doing, in her own words she is “human and has a heart too and cares deeply with it”.
“Anjana regularly checked in on me (between allocated checks) and tries to help me in any way feasible. For such a young nurse she has so much life experience that she uses to help mentally unwell people and when you’re poorly, that human element means everything.”
Anjana received her award from Jane Martin, assistant director for nursing and quality, accompanied by her colleagues.
Anjana shared: “I want to make everyone feel safe, secure, accepted, heard and cared for and this award ensures me that I did that.
“This award isn’t just mine, it’s a reflection of every patient who’s trusted me, every team member who’s supported me, and every moment that reminded me why I became a nurse in the first place.
“You will be there for people on their best and worst days. You will witness both incredible joy and profound sorrow — and your presence will often make all the difference.”
You can thank your nurse by making a DAISY Award nomination here: www.leicspart.nhs.uk/about/daisy-award/
An acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, The DAISY Foundation was formed in America in November 1999, by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). The nursing care Patrick received when hospitalised profoundly touched his family.
You can find out more about the DAISY Foundation on their website: www.daisyfoundation.org/
Each DAISY Award honouree is recognised at a ceremony in their ward or department and receives a DAISY Award pin, certificate and a hand-carved sculpture A Healer’s Touch, funded by LPT’s charity Raising Health.