Congratulations to our newest DAISY Honoree, Alaina Wilken. Alaina is a Nurse with Labor and Delivery. The DAISY Award recognizes the exceptional, skillful, and compassionate care these nurses demonstrate for our patients and families every day.

Her nomination read, “In August I had my second son at Riverside. The morning of my birth I sent my husband to work for a training an hour away. I was definitely in denial that I was in labor. I had an appointment with Dr. Andrew at 10 and she immediately sent me to labor and delivery because I was 5cm dilated! Due to not having my husband with me right away and having Alaina greet me with a smile was something I definitely needed. She asked me what my goals were and talked through how we could make those things happen. I didn’t have the best birthing experience with my first son in 2022 and had some trauma from it. Alaina went ABOVE and BEYOND to walk and talk me through every step of the way. She made me feel safe and heard while I was alone. My husband finally made it and we made the decision to get an epidural and break my water. A lot of my anxiety came from my negative reaction to the epidural
the first time. Alaina walked me through the process and told me the steps she will do to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Due to the anxiety I was a sobbing mess while doing the epidural. Some of the people in the room asked me if I was in pain because I was crying so hard. I couldn’t even speak and
Alaina looked at them all and said “Emily did not have a good experience with the epidural her first birth, but we have a plan to change that this time around. Emily is so strong and can get through this.” To say I was grateful for someone I just met that day and had full confidence she was going to take care of me
while I am at the most vulnerable state a woman can be at is an understatement. Looking back at my second son’s birthday it was EVERYTHING I have ever dreamed of and it would not have been possible without Alaina

For a full list of nominees, click here.

Congratulations to Alexandra Ekhoff, our October 2024 DAISY award winner!

Congratulations to Kim Gaddis, our September 2024 DAISY award winner!

Join us as we recognize Nursery RN Kim Gaddis as our newest DAISY Honoree. The DAISY Award celebrates the extraordinary, compassionate, and skillful care nurses provide every day.

Kim’s nomination read: “During my hospital stay 9-21-2024 through 9-23/2024 Kim was the nursery RN who took care of my new baby boy from the start of the C-section till we basically got discharged. When she introduced herself and informed me that she was going to be the nurse in the C-section to get babies height, weight, and do the baby’s bath, I informed her that my husband was unable to watch my daughter get bathed back in 2022 at RMC or anything and if she could grab him once this baby was born so he could see all the things he missed out on with our daughter and she did! My husband was so excited he was able to experience that this time around and I’m so thankful for Kim doing that. Kim was compassionate, never judged if my husband and I had questions even though this was our 2nd child, and she was so knowledgeable when she showed us circumcision care. She helped us with diaper changes after my baby was circumcised because of how new it was and we had no idea what we were doing. She never made us feel incompetent and she always kept us stocked with everything we needed. She was also fast to bring us formula when the baby needed to be fed. She was just overall very attentive and caring and listened to all of our concerns or needs. She checked on us all the time and always made sure we were comfortable and addressed any needs and or questions or concerns. She deserves this!”