W&I nurse recognized for on-the-job heroism

PROVIDENCE – Registered nurse Ivonilde Burgess was recently honored by Women & Infants Hospital for her work in the hospital’s chemotherapy infusion center.
The award is part of a national program, under the auspices of the DAISY Foundation, which seeks to recognize day-to-day heroism on the part of nurses around the country.
Burgess has been a nurse with Women & Infants for 14 years. Her patients praised her commitment and compassion, noting her thoughtfulness and positive work relationships.
“The worst thing about my mother’s cancer is handling the unknown,” said the daughter of one of Burgess’ patients. “Ivonilde is not only professional, but genuine. Ivonilde makes this phase of her treatment easier. My mother looks forward to coming to treatments because she trusts Ivonilde.”
The nonprofit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, Calif., and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, a little-known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Barnes and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
Burgess is the third recipient of the DAISY award at Women & Infants and the second infusion-center nurse to be honored. •