SVHC Announces DAISY Award Winners

Ashley Andrews, AD, RN, of the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) Emergency Department 

BENNINGTON, VT—January 18, 2022— Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) recently honored four nurses with DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nurses. They are Ashley Andrews, AD, RN, and Hannah Hill, BSN, RN, both of the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) Emergency Department; Katie Klebbe, BSN, RN, of the Intensive Care Unit at SVMC; and Misty Roy, BSN, RN, of the SVMC Med/Surg Unit.

“Each of these nurses offers her patients an incredible combination of nursing skill and compassion,” said Pamela Duchene, PhD, APRN, vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer. “There’s nothing patients appreciate more than being in gentle and capable hands, and that really shines through in the nominations we received for these professionals.”

Andrews was nominated by two families with toddlers who had broken a bone. “She went out of her way to ensure our wait was as painless as possible. She brought stickers and coloring pages and popsicles,” one family wrote. “Our visit to SVMC would not have been the same without her. We were so lucky to get her as our nurse! We are grateful!” A second family wrote, “she was awesome, even when you could tell she only had a few seconds to spare. She truly embodies what I consider to be a high-level healthcare professional, not just treating the injury but the patient and having the empathy and awareness to know when a personal touch would benefit.” 

Andrews received her bachelor’s in biology from Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, and her associate’s degree in Nursing from Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Troy, NY. Andrews helped develop the Community Care Team at SVMC. She lives in Clarksburg, Massachusetts.

“During these trying times in healthcare and the world in general, this recognition is extremely special,” Andrews said. “It renews my faith in the profession I chose and reminds me of the ‘why.’ Being a nurse is about serving those in a time of need, and I really don’t think there could be a more critical time.”

Hill was nominated by a patient who appreciated her ability to see beyond her physical symptoms. Hill realized “that I just might need a break from my super busy life. She helped me step back and pay attention to what my body was telling me and what I needed to do for myself.” A second patient appreciated Hill’s combination of knowledge and sensitivity. “Hannah talked me through everything she was going to be doing. She was very professional and compassionate: two things you hardly experience in today’s society.”

Hill received her LPN and RN at Vermont Tech before pursuing her bachelor’s in nursing from Castleton University. She started at SVMC as an LPN/ED tech in the Emergency Department in 2003. She has also worked on the medical-surgical unit as both an LPN and RN. She returned to the Emergency Department at SVMC as an RN in 2017. She is a member of the PEER Support Committee and the ED Nurse Advisory Committee. She lives in Bennington.

“I feel humbled and honored by being awarded the Daisy Award,” said Hill.  “I love my job, and I love taking care of patients. I couldn’t do it without God and my ED team.”

Klebbe was nominated by a colleague for her extraordinary leadership when working with a critically ill patient. “From the moment she came onto the unit… I watched her… advocate for the patient, delegate the staff, and [maintain] constant communication with the team and with teleICU. She knew what the patient needed and was not afraid to ask for everything the patient needed.” The nomination went on to express appreciation for Klebbe’s knowledge and ability to accomplish tasks in a professional and timely way.

Kleebe received her associate’s in nursing from Maria College in New York and her bachelor’s in nursing from American Sentinel University in Connecticut. She is currently pursuing a master’s in care coordination at Capella University. Before joining SVMC in the ICU, Klebbe worked in the Renal Transplant Unit at Albany Medical Center. While at SVMC, she served as the co-chair of the Night Shift Council. In addition to working per diem for SVMC, she is a case manager for Fedelis Care. She lives in Hoosick Falls, NY.

“I was nominated for a DAISY Award five times when I worked at Albany Med.,” said Klebbe said. “It is a great honor to finally win one.” She remembers the patient noted in the nomination. “While it was a difficult case, I am grateful to have been able to help him survive.”

Roy was nominated by the wife of a patient. She wrote, “my husband was so very sad and scared, and she took the time to personally interact with him… Her bright and cheerful persona at that… time really meant the world to me. The world needs more nurses like her, and I am thankful.” The nominator acknowledged Roy’s clinical excellence combined with her ability to make her husband laugh. “Which, to me, is one of the best medicines ever.”

Roy attended the University of Massachusetts, Boston, received her associate’s in nursing from Quincy College in 2016, and earned her bachelor’s in nursing from Chamberlain University in 2020. Before joining SVMC, Roy worked as a medical assistant for dermatology at Boston Medical Center in Massachusetts and at Bennington Health and Rehab. She has been at SVMC since 2020. She lives in Bennington.

“I moved to Bennington because I wanted to work at SVMC; this was my … dream job,” Roy said. “I feel honored to be recognized for this award. I have met so many amazing people: patients and staff. Everyone has facilitated my learning about myself and how to care for this wonderful community. It just keeps getting better!”

The DAISY Award is part of a national merit-based recognition program established by the DAISY Foundation. It celebrates nurses’ education, training, and skill. Nominations can be submitted by patients, families, physicians, and colleagues. All nominations are blinded, so they are anonymous before being reviewed by a selection committee. One nurse is chosen as the DAISY Award winner. DAISY Awards are presented on a regular basis, usually monthly.

About SVHC:
Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is a comprehensive, preeminent, health care system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVHC includes Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, and the SVHC Foundation. SVMC includes 25 primary and specialty care practices.

Southwestern Vermont Health Care is among the most lauded small rural health systems in the nation. It is the recipient of the American Hospital Association’s 2020 Rural Hospital Leadership Award. SVMC ranked fourth nationwide for the value of care it provides by the Lown Institute Hospital Index and is a five-time recipient of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. It has also received the highest marks possible from the Leapfrog Group. 

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center provides exceptional care without discriminating on the basis of an individual’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.