Unsung Healthcare Hero Receives Bee Award - Maddi Uhing Honored for Excellence in Patient Care
OMAHA, Neb. – As a daisy relies on a bee, so do nurses who rely upon the professional healthcare support staff they work with daily. This is the idea behind the ongoing effort to recognize nurses and the support staff they rely upon through the Daisy Foundation.
Founded by the Barnes family, the Daisy Foundation commemorates the critical role of nursing staff in patient care by highlighting often unrecognized healthcare professionals who support the robust framework nurses operate within daily.
Specifically, The Daisy Foundation emphasizes that nursing is a collective endeavor, the success of which rests on the shared dedication of countless healthcare support team members.
In a captivating bid to credit these unsung care champions, the Daisy Foundation introduced the Bee Award. This accolade is dedicated to notable personnel providing paramount patient support, defining their essential part in nursing.
In a ceremony held on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at the Omaha VA Medical Center, healthcare assistant Maddi Uhing was honored as the winner of the Bee Award in recognition of her outstanding professional commitment. The nomination for this recognition originated from a satisfied Veteran who experienced Uhing’s warmth and diligent care first-hand. The Veteran added Uhing is a phenomenal nursing assistant and an invaluable asset to the healthcare team.
In presenting the award, Dr. Eileen Kingston, VA NWIHCS director, praised Uhing for her significant impact on patients and daily operations while also thanking her for her steadfast dedication, underscoring her indispensable role within the healthcare team.
Uhing, who followed her mother’s path by entering the nursing field at 16, said the award deeply moved her.
For Uhing, the Bee Award is a meaningful form of validation that made her feel valued and appreciated.
While humbled by the recognition, Uhing said she has big career plans. She wishes to continue serving in patient care at the Omaha VA hospital, with the ultimate aim of becoming a nurse.
Uhing's primary driving force remains her passion to continue serving Veterans, a cause close to her heart. "They served for me, so I feel like the least I can do is give them the best care and help them as they go through their hardest days."