Fort Harrison ICU Nurse Recognized as Montana VA’s 2023 Daisy Award Recipient

Montana VA Health Care System (Montana VA) honored an outstanding nurse, Todd Burton, from Fort Harrison VA Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), as the 2023 Daisy Award recipient.

The Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognizes individual nurses and clinical teams throughout the year for their extraordinary, compassionate care. More than 4,500 health care facilities and nursing schools across the United States as well as 27 other countries participate in the Daisy Awards every year.

“I am very grateful for the outstanding nurses we have serving our Veterans and their families,” said Montana VA’s Associate Director of Patient Care Services, Vicki Thennis. “As nurses, we promise to protect, strengthen, and support our patients and their families at every step of their care, whether the news is easy or difficult to share. Mr. Todd Burton exemplifies this promise, and we are so proud of him and so grateful for the compassionate and excellent care he provides to our Veterans and their families.”

To receive the Daisy Award, each potential awardee must be nominated. Nurses can be nominated by anyone in their organization including patients, family members, fellow nurses, physicians, and other staff members. Todd Burton was nominated by Kathy Brown, the daughter of a Veteran who was cared for at Fort Harrison VA Medical Center for two weeks until his passing.

“Extraordinary is an excellent description of Todd. He was on duty the night my dad was admitted and eased my concern about leaving Dad in ICU. During the next two weeks, Todd not only took excellent nursing care of my dad but created a trusting relationship with him and with me." She continued, “Todd was on duty the last two days when it was clear the end was coming. His compassion, his understanding, and his guidance were amazing, and I will be forever grateful that he was with me and Dad when he took his last breath. Todd is clearly an extraordinary nurse and human being.”

Todd Burton has been a nurse for over two decades and has worked at Montana VA for four years.

Montana VA serves over 47,000 enrolled Veterans across Montana—an area roughly 147,000 square miles in size. Veterans are cared for by a staff of 1,400 at 18 sites of care across the state.  One third of Montana VA employees are Veterans.

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