CommonSpirit - Memorial Hospital honored Leah Bridges, RN, with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

A fellow nurse nominated Ms. Bridges for transforming a communication challenge with a deaf patient into an opportunity for human connection and comfort. 

“Leah's calm demeanor, compassionate touch and ability to bridge that communication barrier brought an immediate sense of relief to both the patient and our team. Leah continued to check in on the patient, returning to her room multiple times to sign reassuring words, hold her hand and ensure she felt safe and understood.

Leah's compassion turned what could have been a traumatic and isolating experience for this patient into one of comfort, dignity and trust. Leah's kindness and initiative embody the true essence of nursing, the ability to see beyond medical needs and meet patients where they are, emotionally and personally. She took it upon herself to advocate, comfort and connect in a way that profoundly impacted everyone who witnessed it,” her nomination letter said.

Ms. Bridges  works in the cardiovascular  intensive care unit at CommonSpirit - Memorial Hospital - Chattanooga and has worked at CommonSpirit since 2023.

CommonSpirit partners with the DAISY Foundation to recognize the extraordinary difference nurses make in the lives of patients and co-workers. 

Nurses are chosen each month to receive this award that honors compassionate care. Honorees receive a bouquet of daisies, a certificate, a copy of her/his nomination letter, and a sculpture called A Healer’s Touch - hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. The honoree's nursing unit also receives a cinnamon doughnut party, "because it takes a team for a nurse to achieve his/her best."  Tasty Doughnuts donates the treats.