Michelle Peterson, APNP, a nurse practitioner practicing primarily at the Gundersen Fennimore Clinic, was selected as the organization’s 2023 DAISY Award Recipient – the first winner from the clinic setting. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize nurses, and in Michelle’s case nurse practitioners, around the world for the extraordinary, compassionate care they provide patients and families every day.
Michelle was nominated after helping a pre-teen patient and their family navigate anxiety that was manifesting through common symptoms like persistent stomachaches, headaches and worry. The grateful parent – and nominator – said, “Despite our best efforts to handle things on our own, as parents we felt ill-equipped. We reached out to Michelle and shared our concerns. She was amazing. She provided us with guidance, perspective, agebased tools and resources and connected us with a Gundersen behavioral health provider. Her proactive approach not only helped support our child through a few rocky months of pre-middle school jitters, but we know she’s also helping many other families just like ours who just want their kids to thrive and be happy despite big changes and invisible pressures that kids face today.”
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known but common auto-immune disease (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System).
The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families.
“Like our previous Daisy Award recipients, Michelle exemplifies Gundersen Boscobel’s commitment to ensuring all patients have an exceptional experience every time they walk through our doors,” said Renae Creasey, nurse manager of Gundersen Boscobel’s Primary Care Clinics. “This year is Gundersen Boscobel’s first winner from the primary care setting and Michelle couldn’t be more deserving of this honor.”
At Gundersen Boscobel, the Award is presented annually during Nurses Week at a celebration attended by the honoree’s colleagues, patients and family.
At the May 8 award ceremony, Michelle was presented with a certificate commending her extraordinary impact, a special DAISY Award Pin and a meaningful sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch”, which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.
“Parenting is tough work,” the parent and nominator said. “This experience reminded us that as parents, it’s okay to reach out for help, and when you do, it’s comforting to have providers who bring their human side to each interaction.”
