Lacey Jurek receives DAISY Award for outstanding nursing care

The latest recipient of Riverwood Healthcare Center’s prestigious DAISY Award for nursing excellence is Lacey Jurek, a registered nurse in the OB & Med/Surg departments. Jurek has been with Riverwood for 11 years, providing compassionate care to countless patients throughout her 13-year nursing career.

Riverwood participates in the DAISY Award program, which honors nurses who have been nominated by patients for their extraordinary acts of compassion and the profound relationships they build with those they care for. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s initiative to recognize the superhuman efforts nurses perform every day.

Jurek was nominated by Ashley Sparrow, a patient who delivered her second daughter, Collins, at Riverwood on September 8, 2024. Sparrow shared these heartfelt words in her nomination:
“I would not have received this kind of love if I were to have given birth at my home location in Minneapolis. The care was spectacular for both my baby and me. To have such a wonderful experience with my second and last baby was incredible. Thank you, Lacey! You are an amazing nurse. Riverwood is so lucky to have you.”

Jurek’s thoughtful, personalized care made Sparrow’s experience during her early labor and delivery feel calm and supported, even though Ashley was two weeks early and far from home. Jurek’s ability to meet her family’s needs with kindness, her calm demeanor during delivery, and her post-birth care exemplified the exceptional nursing standards Riverwood values.

Jurek commented, “I am so honored to receive the DAISY Award. It’s a privilege to care for my patients and their families during such special moments in their lives. My goal is always to make them feel heard, comfortable, and well cared for, and I am so grateful for this recognition.”

Carla Zupko, Chief Nursing Officer at Riverwood Healthcare Center, added, “Lacey exemplifies the qualities we strive for in our nursing staff. Her dedication to patient care, particularly in challenging situations like those that Ashley and her family faced, is a testament to her compassion and skill as a nurse. We are incredibly proud to have Lacey on our team, and we are thrilled to present her with the DAISY Award.”

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes.  Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of diopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. 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.