July DAISY Award recipient's connection, compassionate care bring reassurance to family

Entrusting a loved one to someone else’s care can be difficult, especially when they can't fully communicate their own needs. For one mother, the compassion shown by her son’s nurse turned what could have been a stressful hospital stay into one filled with reassurance and dignity.

In recognition of her extraordinary care, Natasha Vance, RN, Observation Unit, has been named Reid Health’s DAISY Award recipient for July.

“As a parent of an adult son with intellectual disability, I often carry an added layer of concern when he is in someone else’s care,” the nominator said. “However, from the very beginning, Natasha’s kindness, patience, and professionalism gave me a deep sense of comfort and trust.”

The nominator wrote Vance treated her son as an individual, respecting his needs, communicating with compassion, and ensuring he felt safe and understood.

“Natasha’s ability to connect with him, even in moments that could have been challenging, did not go unnoticed,” the nominator said.

“It takes a truly special person to provide that level of attentive and empathetic care, and your dedication made a meaningful difference in both his experience and mine.”

Misti Foust-Cofield, Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer, said Vance exemplifies compassionate, patient- and family-centered care.

“One of the most meaningful aspects of nursing is the relationships our caregivers build with patients and families,” Foust-Cofield said.

“Natasha’s ability to ease this mother's concerns while ensuring her son was treated with dignity, respect, and compassion reflects the kind of nursing experience we strive to provide for every patient and family at Reid.”

Vance instantly remembered the family. For the Richmond resident, building relationships is one of the most rewarding parts of working on the Observation Unit.

“That’s what I love about this unit,” she said. “We get a lot of the same people who come in often, and I love getting to know them.”

Before she became a registered nurse, Vance worked in long-term care and a medical office before pursuing a nursing degree from Ivy Tech Community College. She’s worked on the unit since joining Reid in July 2020.

“I went into nursing with the end goal of taking care of my parents, and so I just take care of everyone’s loved ones like they were my own mom or dad,” Vance said.

Vance believes exceptional nursing extends beyond clinical care. It means understanding each patient’s unique needs, creating an environment where they feel respected and supported, and making sure families feel confident in the care their loved one is receiving.

“What we provide is total care. It’s the relationships, the healthcare, the medicine. It’s everything we can do — it’s the big picture,” Vance said.

Vance also credits the close-knit team on the Observation Unit for helping shape the nurse she has become. She said the friendships and teamwork have helped her grow both personally and professionally. Now as a mentor and preceptor, she enjoys encouraging and supporting the next generation of nurses joining the unit.

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

Vance was joined at the award presentation by her father and mother, Sean and Holly Butler; her husband, Scott Vance; daughter Avery; son Kahl; and niece Katlynn, who helped surprise her by holding a congratulatory banner as she exited a patient’s room.

Even with the celebration and rounds of congratulations, Vance’s attention shifted to her patients. As one was being taken for a procedure, Vance paused to explain what would happen next, provide instructions, and reassure the patient she would be there when they returned.

It’s that compassion that left a lasting impression for the nominator.

“Because of Natasha, what could have been a stressful situation became one filled with reassurance and dignity,” the nominator said. “Please know that Natasha’s compassion and commitment are deeply appreciated and will not be forgotten.”

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 or submit a nomination, visit https://www.reidhealth.org/daisy-award.