The past year has been a difficult one for everyone, but especially healthcare workers. Despite all these challenges, 2004 Eagle Grove High School graduate Jessica McClelland has managed to not only continue doing her job as a nurse, but has managed to make such a difference in the life of her patient, Marcia Bjorklund, that she was recently presented with the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses – an international award.
McClelland entered the healthcare field when she was in high school, working as a CNA.
“During high school I was among some of the first students to be offered college credit healthcare classes through Iowa Central (Community College). This gave me the opportunity to receive my Certified Nursing Assistant degree and obtain my first job in healthcare,” explained McClelland.
In 2011, McClelland graduated with an Associate's Degree in Nursing from ICCC in Fort Dodge and has spent the last seven years and four months working at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion and Belmond. A year ago, she began working in their Surgery Department. She is grateful to be a part of this division, but also appreciates the steps she has taken along the way in her medical career, stating that having worked in different healthcare roles has helped her to better understand and appreciate people in those positions.
“I believe it helps make a better team,” she said. “I have met some amazing people and learned so much from my coworkers (and now) I am blessed to be part of the ISH Surgery Department.”
McClelland has always enjoyed helping people, and for Bjorklund, that was obvious by the patient care she received from her while in the hospital. In late November of last year, Bjorklund decided to recognize this outstanding nurse by nominating her for the very prestigious Daisy (Disease Attacking the Immune system) Award. In her nomination she wrote, “As we first got to our room, Jessica was going over the name, DOB (Date of Birth), Allergies- for DOB, she said that was also her birthday. Unique! Jessica was very caring and knowledgeable! She could answer any question we had…and she deserves the Daisy Award.”
The Daisy Award was created more than 20 years ago by the family of Patrick Barnes. Barns was 33 years old and had spent several weeks in the hospital before passing away from his illness. Shortly after, the family was talking about the care he had received while in the hospital and were touched and overwhelmed by the compassion of the nurses. That’s when they came up with the idea of the Daisy Award – to recognize extraordinary nurses who go above and beyond their jobs.
The committee agreed that McClelland was indeed an extraordinary nurse and deserving of the Daisy Award. She is now amongst the 85,000+ nurses who have been presented with this award around the world over the course of the past two decades.
McClelland said she was surprised to hear she had won the award and had no prior knowledge that she had even been nominated.
“I am very honored to have received this award from her. Knowing that I made such an impact on her visit to the hospital that she felt compelled to nominate me just reassures me that I chose the right career path,” she said.
The patients are McClelland’s favorite part of being a nurse, especially being able to listen to them when they “just need someone to talk to.” Having worked night shifts for much of her career, McClelland said she has had the opportunity to do just that – spend time listening to patients and their stories, helping them through a tough diagnosis, and answering their questions.
“I love educating my patients on how to care for themselves,” McClelland said.
As part of her Daisy Award, McClelland received a certificate and a Daisy pin that she said she wears proudly on her name badge every day at work.
“I have been very lucky in my healthcare career to have worked with some amazing people. I have had some outstanding mentors in the last 10 years, and also while I was in nursing school. Without their support and knowledge I wouldn't be where I am today,” she said. “Healthcare can be challenging so you have to have a good support system.”
Amongst that support system are her parents, Gary and Sharon Geisinger of Eagle Grove, her husband Ryan McClelland, and their two children, Kayden and Leslie.
Perhaps McClelland’s favorite saying sums it up best about why she is proud to work as a nurse. "They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel." ~ Maya Angelou
