CommonSpirit - Memorial Hospital honored Bobby Lawrence, RN, with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

A patient’s family nominated Mr. Lawrence for consistently providing compassionate and individualized care.

“Over the past year and a half, across multiple hospitalizations, Bobby has approached [her] care with respect and intentionality. He always speaks directly to her, ensuring she is included in conversations about her care, and then turns to us for confirmation or additional input.

He welcomes our involvement without hesitation and never makes us feel like a nuisance for asking questions or offering information about [her]... He has patiently answered hundreds of questions through the months as we have worked to better understand her care… Bobby’s knowledge and skill have helped keep [her] safe. His care and compassion at the bedside is so evident that [she] confidently calls him “her favorite dialysis nurse… It is difficult to fully express what it means to our family when we learn that Bobby will be [her] nurse. His presence brings confidence, comfort, and trust in a situation that is otherwise filled with uncertainty. He exemplifies the very heart of nursing, and we are deeply grateful for the care he provides.”

Mr. Lawrence works in the dialysis unit at CommonSpirit - Memorial Hospital - Chattanooga and has worked at CommonSpirit since 2005.

CommonSpirit is 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, which honors compassionate care. Honorees receive a bouquet of daisies, a certificate, a copy of her/his nomination letter, and a beautiful and meaningful 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 generously donates the treats for this worthy cause.