Celebrating Excellence: Lauren Walker, RN, 2024 DAISY Award Honoree

Adventist Health Tillamook announces Lauren Walker, RN, has been honored with the 2024 DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. This prestigious award recognizes nurses who demonstrate exceptional clinical skills and compassionate care. Lauren, known as “Wren,” to her colleagues, exemplifies these qualities and more, consistently setting a high standard of excellence in patient care. The peers who nominated her for the award described her as a kind, outstanding team member with positive energy and readiness to support her team. She is often the first to respond to patient needs, offering assistance and emotional support to both patients and fellow nurses. One nomination highlighted Wren’s ability to connect deeply with patients, even in brief interactions. A fellow nurse shared an example of Wren providing calm, compassionate care to a sick patient, starting a new IV and engaging in meaningful conversation about the patient’s family and heritage — all within a few minutes. This dedication to patient care and her calming presence in stressful situations makes Wren a beloved and respected member of the team.

Patients and families also praise Wren’s compassionate approach. One patient recounted how Wren‘s care and attention made a hospital stay more comfortable and less frightening for their children. Another shared how Wren’s educational approach helped manage a critical health condition, restoring their faith in the medical system. Wren’s commitment to inclusivity and patient-centered care ensures that patients and their families are actively involved in their care plans, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. Her ability to educate and empower patients and their families is a testament to her dedication to excellence. Eric Swanson, President of Adventist Health Tillamook, remarked, “Each spring, our hospital partners with the DAISY Foundation to celebrate an Adventist Health Tillamook nurse who demonstrates the highest levels of clinical and compassionate care. This year’s honoree puts her whole heart into caring for every patient; her empathetic presence and excellent clinical approach help patients, their families and her co-workers feel our Adventist Health ‘Be Love’ value.”