Vandalia Health Mon Preston Memorial Hospital honors Schmidle with DAISY nursing award

Vandalia Health Mon Preston Memorial Hospital proudly announces Emergency Nurse Laura Schmidle, RN, BSN, as a recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

The DAISY Award is a nationally recognized program honoring nurses who go above and beyond to provide compassionate, skillful care. Schmidle was nominated by a grateful patient who praised her ability to combine clinical excellence with genuine empathy.

“[Laura] was the first nurse I have had since May 2021 that truly made me feel like she cared about what I was experiencing and that she wanted to help me find answers,” the patient wrote in a letter of support. “Never once did I feel doubted, and while that may not sound like a big deal, I cannot explain the sheer relief that I had in this moment of fear, where I wanted nothing more than to have my Mom nearby, and Laura was there and provided me all of the comfort that I needed. Whether it was just simply talking to me or bringing me warm blankets, checking in on me to make sure I was able to get some sleep … I cannot say enough about what this level of care meant to me and my family.”

Schmidle’s recognition reflects Vandalia Health’s ongoing commitment to honoring nurses who embody the organization’s values of compassion, excellence and patient-centered care.

“To know that the care our team provides made such a difference to a patient and her family is greatly appreciated. The Emergency Department does not often receive feedback and follow up on the patient’s journey of healing,” Schmidle said. “Receiving the DAISY Award is a wonderful recognition of compassion, but the greatest reward is the gift of trust from our community to provide comfort and support to our patients when they are in need.”

“We are delighted to present the DAISY Award to Laura. Her ability to comfort our patients during difficult times and provide care with both skill and kindness is exactly what this award represents, and why our community is so fortunate to have her at Mon Preston Memorial Hospital,” said Melissa Lockwood, Chief Administrative Officer, Vandalia Health Mon Preston Memorial Hospital.

The DAISY Award was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 of complications from an autoimmune disease. His family created the award to recognize the nurses who provided him with extraordinary care.

For more information or to nominate a nurse for a DAISY award at Mon Preston Memorial Hospital, visit MonHealth.com/Preston-Memorial/Thank-A-Nurse.