Louis a. Johnson vamc nurses and support staff honored during national nurses week | va clarksburg health care | veterans affairs

National Nurses Week runs from May 6 through May 12, 2025. Last week, the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center honored one extraordinary nurse with the DAISY award. Additionally, several

nurses were recognized for being nominated for the VA Secretary’s Excellence in Nursing Awards. Lastly, the medical center introduced the Bee Award, recognizing a non-nurse health care team

member, who consistently demonstrates excellence through clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care as role models. Lois VanGilder, RN, of Louis A. Johnson VAMC was recently

honored with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.  Nurse

VanGilder works in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center. The submitted Veteran nomination read, “She was motherly and treated my spouse and I with care.

She stayed by my side through the night. She was on top of patient care and helped me with anything I needed. She actually listened to me. I felt heard and seen. My spouse was cold and

panicked and she took the time to put a warm blanket around my spouse’s shoulders and comforted my spouse. She was able to show calmness and kindness during the chaos. My blood pressure

plummeted, and she was on it. She stayed by my side through the night. Didn’t have to do it but she did it. It showed me Lois cares about what she does and her patients. She was

knowledgeable about any questions I had.” Just as the Daisy cannot bloom with the support of the bee, nurses cannot do their best work without the outstanding teamwork provided by the other

healthcare professionals. The quarterly BEE (Be Extraordinary Every Day) Award recognizes exceptional caregivers providing to the care of Veterans. The Louis A. Johnson VAMC implemented this

recognition program for non- nursing staff and allied healthcare professionals such as but not limited to nursing assistants, health care technicians, social workers, dental staff, clerks,

medical support assistants, drivers, physicians, food service workers, radiology/laboratory technicians, etc. The Bee Award is an opportunity for recognition of an outstanding experience you

may have had as a Veteran or witnessed extraordinary care of a Veteran; the Bee Award allows the Louis A. Johnson VAMC to honor the employee who provided quality compassionate care and

service.  Earlier this week, Melissa Harrow, Advanced Medical Support Assistant, of the Wood County VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Parkersburg, WV, was honored with the first

Bee Award for Extraordinary staff members. The BEE award nomination read, “On January 29, 2025, a Veteran presented to the CBOC inquiring about services. Melissa began to speak with him,

then later learned he is homeless, relocating from Texas and must completely start over. She spent well over an hour with this Veteran helping him transfer care, establish care, and get him

in touch with help for housing, social work and providing him contact information for homeless Veterans. Melissa showed this Veteran the utmost respect and compassion and is committed to

treating our Veterans with the respect they deserve. The Wood CBOC is lucky to have this employee as part of our team.” The BEE Award honorees personify Louis A. Johnsons VA Medical Center’s

remarkable Veteran experience. On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the first day of National Nurses Month, the Louis A. Johnson VAMC recognized nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing

assistants nominated for the VA Secretary’s Excellence in Nursing Awards. The following healthcare workers were presented certificates by Dr. Piper Knight, Associate Director for Patient

Care Services (ADPCS): Angie Bush, RN; Billie Jo Dodd, Nursing Assistant; Krista Edgar, RN; Brittany Ferrell, LPN; Kristi Gibbons, RN; Sarah Kelly, RN; and Chelsea Roy, LPN. Dr. Piper

Knight, ADPCS, noted, “I am beyond proud of our Louis A. Johnson VAMC nursing staff for continuously stepping up and going above and beyond their required duties to care for our Veterans.

During National Nurses Week, we honor the compassion, dedication, and selflessness of nurses and recognize their commitment to Veterans.” If you would like to describe a specific situation

or story that demonstrates how a nurse made a meaningful difference for a Veteran, please visit: daisynomination.org, scan the included QR code or find submission boxes throughout the Louis

A. Johnson VA Medical Center.  To make a nomination for the Bee Award, recognizing healthcare professionals outside of nursing, scan the included QR code or find submission boxes throughout

the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center.