Meet Donna Lauzon, RN
Donna has dedicated her entire nursing career to home care. In February 2024, she celebrated her 30th work anniversary at Visiting Nurse & Health Services of Connecticut (VNHSC). Throughout her time at VNHSC, she has held various positions including supervisory, on-call, per-diem and her current position as an RN Case Manager on the Hospice team.
It is in the role of Hospice Care Managery that Donna truly shines. In her role, she provides excellent and compassionate care to her patients and families every day and her expertise and experience provide invaluable comfort. For her patients, she is there to advocate and be their voice when they are unable to, and she works hard to ensure they can pass peacefully. For her patient’s families, she ensures they are well-supported throughout the journey. Families often write in to express gratitude for her compassionate care during what is a very difficult time. In totality, she manages all needs holistically to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Not only is Donna a devoted nurse to her patients and families, but she always goes above and beyond for her team. She skillfully orients new staff and assists in providing valuable shadowing opportunities for student nurses and residents. She is often the first to volunteer to see extra patients when needed and this is much appreciated. Donna is passionate about providing the best care and being available wherever and whenever needed.
Her knowledge, experience and compassion make her an invaluable part of the VNHSC team. This dedication shows in every aspect of her work. Her coworkers, families and patients truly value her.
Congratulations, Donna!
ABOUT the DAISY Award
D.A.I.S.Y is the acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The DAISY Foundation was formed 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 hospitalized profoundly touched his family. The family felt they and Patrick experienced the best of Nursing. Not only did they witness expert clinical skill for a very complex medical situation, but it was the kindness and compassion that the staff showed to Patrick and his family every day. The following is a quote from the DAISY Foundation website:
“We were awed by the way the nurses touched him and spoke with him, even when he was on a ventilator and totally sedated. The way they informed and educated us eased our minds. They truly helped us through the darkest hours of our lives, with soft voices of hope and strong loving hugs that to this day, we still feel”.
After Patrick’s death, the family created the DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. Their goal was to “ensure that nurses know how deserving they are of our society’s profound respect for the education, training, brainpower, and skill they put into their work and especially for the caring with which they deliver their care”.
Nominations can be submitted by patients and families and those experiences submitted are reflective of an excellent patient and family experience. The foundation cites, “The nomination stories are rich in data that can describe what is important to patients, their families and others who encounter great, compassionate nursing care. By honoring extraordinary acts of compassion, recognition can positively influence the patient’s perception of their experience”.
The quarterly Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN) DAISY award program is for Manchester Memorial Hospital, Rockville General Hospital and Visiting Nurse & Health Services of CT staff registered nurses. We are fortunate to have nurses such as Jodi Trotter.
