Family Medicine Center Nurse Celebrated for Dedication to Patients

Morgan Bennet, LPN Honored With DAISY Award

Those who work with Morgan Bennet, LPN see first-hand every day just how dedicated she is to her patients and co-workers. That commitment was honored as Morgan became The University of Vermont Health Network-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital’s (CVPH) 18^th DAISY Award recipient.

“Morgan has incredible compassion for others, is a stand-out team player and goes above and beyond every day for both her patients and her team members at work,” offered Aubrey Wheeler, MD, a physician at CVPH Family Medicine Center (FMC) and Associate Program Director with the CVPH Family Medicine Residency. Dr. Wheeler was one of three physicians who nominated Morgan for the award.

"Morgan is one of the reasons I love coming to work." - Aubrey Wheeler, MD

In her nomination, Dr. Wheeler shared an example of the great care Morgan provides for her patients, writing, “I just found out that she went with one of our more medically complex patients to his Endocrinology appointment so she could learn how to use his continuous glucose monitor, so as to better help him and our other patients in the future, as this type of monitor is new to our clinic.”

Morgan, who has been working at FMC for more than three years, is also known for meeting with patients on her own time to help them fill their medication organizers. She checks in on patients who may have missed a few appointments and responds to patient messages in MyChart to get them the answers they need.

“She will go to any length to ensure that our patients’ needs are met,” Jonathan Langill, MD a third year Family Medicine Resident, offered. “She’s selfless, caring and the most hardworking person I’ve ever met. She most definitely deserves every recognition, as she is a one of a kind nurse.”

Morgan is ready to make time for anyone who comes through our doors. When one patient was dropped off a few hours early for his appointment, she sat in the waiting room and had lunch with him so he would not have to eat alone.

“She always goes above and beyond to be kind and respectful to everyone,” Jared McDonald, MD, a CVPH Family Medicine Resident, wrote in his nomination of Morgan. “Always cheerful and great to her patients and colleagues, she is loved by all and is constantly working hard to make the jobs of those around her easier. She’s the greatest!”

“Morgan truly embodies CVPH’s mission through her critical thinking, commitment to learning, consistently going above and beyond for her team and patients, and putting her whole heart into her work,” Dr. Wheeler concluded.

During a surprise ceremony, Morgan was presented with a certificate commending her as an extraordinary nurse. She, like all honorees, also received a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

CVPH launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2018 as a way to recognize and reward licensed nurses for making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients. Nomination forms and boxes are located at each of the hospital’s main entrances and on the CVPH website. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues. A committee reviews nominations and awards a deserving nurse each quarter.

The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate care licensed nurses provide to patients and families every day. The DAISY Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family.  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 (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System). 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. More information is available on the DAISY Foundation website.