UP Health System – Portage Nurse Evan Hyrkas, RN, Honored with DAISY Award

UP Health System – Portage is proud to honor Evan Hyrkas, RN, with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care provided to patients and families every day. 

Evan cares for patients in the Medical Surgical Unit, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Emergency Department (ED). Nurses and providers in these units care for a wide variety of critically ill patients whose conditions are often life-threatening or at their most vulnerable times. Below is his nomination from a family member of two patients in Evan's care.

"Evan has been a source of unwavering support and comfort for my family, providing outstanding care to my parents when they were patients at Portage Hospital in Hancock, MI, last year. When my dad was recently admitted to the ICU, it was a great relief to see Evan again, knowing the compassionate care he provides. Evan’s level of skill, patience and love for his work is evident in everything he does. His meticulous attention to detail in repositioning my dad and providing thorough oral care has played a crucial role in my dad’s recovery. Evan’s highly skilled care, combined with his deep commitment to his patient’s well-being, helped prevent recurrent aspiration pneumonia, a condition that had been a significant challenge for my dad. Without Evan's vigilance and expertise, my dad would not be on the road to recovery today.

Evan’s compassion extends beyond his clinical responsibilities. He consistently goes above and beyond to address the concerns and anxieties of family members, offering not just medical updates but emotional support as well. He has a unique ability to connect with families, providing reassurance during the most difficult moments."

UP Health System – Portage would like to also recognize the entire team of nurses who were nominated for the DAISY award this quarter:

• Kendra Stipech, Emergency Department
• Deb Juntunen, Emergency Department
• Sam Haapala, Emergency Department
• Paula Lucier, Upper Great Lakes Health
• Jordan Juntunen, Intensive Care Unit
• Ashley Lehtola, Intensive Care Unit
• Stacey Lassila, Intensive Care Unit
• Filip Haataja, , Intensive Care Unit
• Tiia Langley, Intensive Care Unit
• Heidi Hietila, Obstetrics
• Julie Hayrynen, Obstetrics
• Lindsay Bukovich, Obstetrics
• Marissa Aho, Obstetrics
• Anita Johnson, Nursing Supervisor
• Kayla Williamson, Nursing Supervisor, Emergency Department
• Karla Bastian, Acute Care Unit
• Jeanette Pietila, Acute Care Unit
• Karen Mattson, Acute Care Unit
• Jenny Kangas, Acute Care Unit
• Quinn Leroy, Team Health CRNA

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 not uncommon 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.

Patients, families and colleagues may nominate nurses. Nominations are reviewed by a committee at UP Health System – Portage, which then selects the winner. Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the honoree’s colleagues, patients, friends and family.  Each honoree receives a certificate commending them that reads, “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, chief executive officer and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation said, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for their super-human, extraordinary, compassionate work. The kind of work the nurses at UP Health System – Portage are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of the DAISY Award.”

"One of our top priorities is making sure our nurses know how valued and appreciated they are for the incredible, lifesaving care they provide every day," stated Casey Baird, MBA, BSN, RN, CPPS, chief nursing officer, UP Health System-Portage. "The DAISY Award is one way we do that and we are proud to participate in the program, as we are proud of all our nursing staff."

In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 3,900 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of direct care nurses, nurse-led teams, nurse leaders, nursing faculty and nursing students, through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects and nurses participating in medical missions.

To nominate an extraordinary nurse for the DAISY Award, visit our website. For more information on the DAISY Award, please visit the DAISY Foundation website.