MT. VERNON, IL – Linda Collier, RN, a hospice nurse with SSM Health at Home in Mt. Vernon, IL, was recently honored with the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award for extraordinary nursing throughout her career.
“Linda meets people where they are, adapting and adjusting to accommodate the needs of those she is with at that moment. The start of hospice care can affect patients and families differently, but it is almost always a stressful time. She has a calm presence that is appreciated.” Linda’s colleague continued to praise her effort to go above and beyond for patient care, “We had a patient who passed, and the night before, the family had a large tree limb fall across their driveway. Linda and her husband, who is also a hospice volunteer, loaded up and came to cut the limb up for them. Both Linda and her husband are part of a Disaster Relief Ministry that goes wherever their help is needed, whenever they can. She lives the Mission every day.”
Linda was credited for working as a professional to meet patients' immediate needs, listening, and easing their fears. She is a leader within her team, setting a foundation for the staff who follow. With retirement now in Linda’s sights, her presence will be missed by the SSM Health at Home team as well as the patients.
The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes nurses who have devoted their lives and careers to the compassionate care of others. Nurses are nominated by their colleagues for their lifelong dedication to compassion in nursing through active mentoring, role modeling, advocating for their patients, and promoting the positive image of nursing.
To be considered for the award, the nominees must have 25+ years of service, a distinguished career in nursing, a special concern for those who are underserved and marginalized, and be instrumental in implementing the mission of SSM Health with their team.
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33; the care Patrick received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. DAISY stands for diseases attacking the immune system.
About SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital – Mt. Vernon
SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital – Mt. Vernon, operating in partnership with the Felician Sisters, is a 134-bed hospital and has the most advanced robotic surgical system for minimally invasive surgery, a comprehensive neurosciences program, and a pediatric emergency and NICU telemedicine program operated in conjunction with the physicians at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.
In 2016, SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital was named a “Best Hospital” by US News and World Report for the treatment of congestive heart failure. In recent years, Healthgrades has presented SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital with the Patient Safety Excellence Award, Outstanding Patient Experience Award, and the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence.
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