Emergency Department Nurse, Kate Horton, BSN, RN, CEN of Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) was recently honored with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize and express gratitude for all the amazing work nurses do every day.
Kate’s nomination reads:
“Sometimes you get to be someone’s friend on the worst day of their life. Sometimes you go on a journey and don’t even realize the impact you will make. On August 21, 2024 my husband Rick was having a heart attack. Me, as an ER nurse working with crisis and high energy, all my “common cool” went out the door, especially when it’s your person who is having the emergency. I had to call 911 and get them rolling to come and pick him up. The next call I placed was to the ER and told them that the 911 call was Rick. I happen to be talking to Kate, and she calmly said, “We got you”. I would like to nominate Kate for the Daisy award. I have a lot of respect for her and the way she nurses- kind, caring, compassionate, and attention to detail are just some of the things that I admire. The team that was there and ready to receive him comes with experience from Kate, knowing what needs to be done and who the players need to be: ER provider, Pharmacy, Radiology, and Lab, we’re all there once Rick arrived. It was busy, but an environment that was controlled and calm. We already knew Rick would need to have the clot buster because of the heart attack. Kate was able to get things done quickly, all the while, keeping him calm and making him laugh. Kate supported me and provided one to one care for Rick until we made sure he was stable. Knowing Rick would need a higher level of care, arrangements were made by the team members in the ER. Flight arrangements were made for a transfer to Aurora, Colorado. This is just a brief look into our story, but we are truly blessed to have an awesome ER and experienced crew who knew what needed to be done. Kate is deserving of this award because of her knowledge, her heart, and the energy that she gives to her patients. Her voice of knowledge and her ability to provide reassurance was much appreciated. Kate is kind and a forward-thinker, and she knows what needs to be done and how to get it accomplished.”
Kate has dedicated nearly 30 years to exceptional patient care at BBGH, beginning as a charge nurse in the Patient Care Unit and taking her expertise to the Emergency Department. “Kate has been a dedicated member of our Emergency Department team. Her genuine compassion, expert knowledge, and tireless dedication have touched the lives of many. Kate exemplifies the heart of nursing, continually going above and beyond to provide care with dignity and respect. We deeply appreciate the empathy, skill, and professionalism she brings to her work every day,” said Chief Nursing Officer Erica Lauder. Kate’s top CliftonStrengths- Responsibility, Futuristic, Consistency, Empathy, and Discipline- embody her as a person and nurse. “These strengths help me to plan, give my very best I can every time, truly understand what my patients are going through, and stay calm and focused in all situations,” said Kate. She credits the strengths of the entire Emergency Department for helping them to work as a team and know what they need to do in order to save lives. In recognition of her exceptional service, Kate was also honored with The Caring Kind Award by the Nebraska Hospital Association in 2023 and has been named BBGH Employee of the Year twice- in both 1998 and 2022. Kate’s devotion and compassion are certain to have an enduring impact on her patients and the community.
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
“When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation, said. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at BBGH are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 4,600 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of direct care Nurses, Nurse-led Teams, Nurse Leaders, Nurses Advancing Health Equity, Nursing Faculty, Nursing Students, Lifetime Achievement in Nursing and through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, Medical Mission Grants their new Health Equity Grant program.
To nominate a BBGH nurse for the DAISY Award, please visit https://www.bbgh.org/patients-visitors/daisy-award-nominations.html.