Connersville Emergency Services nurse recognized with February DAISY award for providing exceptional care

A Connersville resident is thankful for the actions of an Emergency Services nurse not only for saving her life but also for providing compassionate care to her husband during a later visit.

In recognition of her extraordinary care, Bailey Herrell, RN, of Reid Health Connersville Emergency Services, has been named Reid’s DAISY Award recipient for February.

The nomination was submitted after the couple had received care from Herrell at different times.

“Bailey is amazing,” the nominator wrote. “She actually saved my life this past summer.”

The nominator credits Herrell with quickly recognizing she was going into hypovolemic shock and taking action.

Since then, Herrell has also cared for the nominator’s husband.

“She’s efficient, responsive, and compassionate,” the nominator wrote.

Herrell asked thoughtful, in-depth questions — including details about events leading up to his visit — to ensure nothing was overlooked. She also double-checked unusual blood pressure readings rather than dismissing them as machine error.

“She addressed my husband's pain. She treated him with such care and dignity,” the nominator wrote.

During one visit, the nominator noticed Herrell working with a trainee, explaining the process of drawing blood cultures, including the technique and reasoning behind each step.

“She was awesome with that,” the nominator wrote.

Herrell said she’s always been drawn to help others. The Connersville resident began her career as a Student Nurse Technician on the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) at Reid Health Richmond in 2020. After graduating from Indiana University East with her nursing degree, she joined the Emergency Services team before transferring to Connersville.

“It’s a different workflow and a different environment (than the PCU),” Herrell said.

“You see some really sick people, and you get to help them right at the beginning of those scary moments. You help them get where they need to be so they can continue their care and receive more specialized treatment.”

Herrell believes extraordinary nursing is rooted in compassionate care and patient education and involves their families in what’s happening, explaining what is being done and why.

“Patients usually aren’t in the medical field, and sometimes they might not want certain tests done. But when you take the time to explain the reasoning behind it, that education becomes a very important part of nursing,” Herrell said.

“Continuity of care and just being there and listening can make a difference during what might be one of the hardest times in a person’s life.”

Each DAISY recipient receives a certificate, a pin, and “The Healer’s Touch” sculpture recognizing extraordinary nursing compassion.

“Bailey makes an extraordinary difference in the lives of patients and families,” said Misti Foust-Cofield, Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer at Reid.

“Her ability to recognize a life-threatening situation and provide compassionate care during difficult moments reflects the kind of patient care we strive to provide at Reid Health. We’re proud to recognize her with the DAISY Award.”

Many of Herrell’s family members were able to attend the ceremony, including her husband, Josh; her parents, Julie and Derrek Jenkins; and several extended family members.

The DAISY Award is part of the DAISY Foundation's mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate care nurses provide to patients and families every day. To learn more about the DAISY Award or submit a nomination, visit https://www.reidhealth.org/daisy-award.