Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, honored a nurse from the Endoscopy department this month, recognizing the compassionate care provided to patients.
Felisha Wright, BSN, RN, was presented with the DAISY Award for Exceptional Nurses after receiving nominations from multiple patients who highlighted her kindness and her extra effort to assist them with issues outside of her normal role.
“This nurse put me at ease by answering all my questions. She was delightful to talk with. Thank you for choosing such a great person with a caring heart,” one nominator wrote.
Another nominator noted that Wright helped when the patient was upset about a negative experience with another medical office.
“While waiting for my endo appointment, Felicia saw that I was clearly upset, and kicked into high gear to help me with a problem that had nothing to do with her or the endoscopy department,” the nominator wrote. “Within a short time, she had made headway with the problem, and went out of her way to get some answers for me, and had made me feel like I was a priority and that my situation was important. As it turned out, when it was time for my appointment, Felisha was assigned to be my nurse. Her positive attitude and professionalism were just what I needed to be put at ease in a situation that was scary for me. Felicia went way above the call of duty today, and showed such compassion and care she was an angel to me.”
Wright is also an advocate for community awareness around colorectal cancer and the importance of colonoscopies as a tool for early detection and prevention. Her DAISY recognition happened to fall during March, which is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Wright has spearheaded many outreach events this month and in year’s past, to ensure the public is educated about colorectal cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer death in the country, but also one of the most preventable.
The DAISY Award is an international recognition program honoring clinical excellence and outstanding compassionate care provided by nurses. Nurses are nominated by patients, families or colleagues and SVMC surprises the recipients with the honor. Awards are given out monthly.
About Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
For more than a century, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) has delivered world-class care and comfort to every patient. Today, SVMC encompasses eight locations across Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts, including a 99-bed hospital and 23 primary and specialty care services. SVMC’s exceptional health teams possess expertise in everything from oncology to orthopedics. Our clinical strength has earned national attention, including six consecutive designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program. Since joining Dartmouth Health in 2023, SVMC has expanded treatment options and services to keep patients closer to home for world-class care. As the largest employer in southwestern Vermont, SVMC is deeply invested in the region, engaging with the community through wellness initiatives, support of local nonprofit organizations and involvement in economic development. SVMC has robust volunteer leadership, at many levels, that help guide and govern the organization, ensuring SVMC continues to serve the patient and staff needs of today, and tomorrow.