Six months later, UofL Burn Unit nurses get the recognition they deserve

A team of healthcare workers was honored Friday with a surprise award for showing up during one of Louisville's toughest weeks.

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It's been six months since a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville International Airport, killing 15 people and leaving others with serious, life-altering injuries. For the nurses on the 6 East Burn Unit at UofL Hospital, that day never really ended- not when the last patient was discharged, and not now.

This week, those nurses were surprised with a DAISY Team Award- one of the highest honors in nursing- recognizing their response on November 4th and in the weeks that followed.

The DAISY Award is typically given to individual nurses for extraordinary compassion and skill. The team version acknowledges something a little different: that some moments are too big for any one person to carry alone.

That was certainly true that day.

According to nominations submitted for the award, Burn Unit nurses moved with "remarkable speed, coordination and purpose" as they prepared the unit for incoming crash victims- while simultaneously continuing to care for their existing patients. Some came in on their day off without being asked. Others simply stepped forward and said, what do you need?

But what stood out in those nominations wasn't just the clinical response. It was everything else.

"Beyond clinical excellence, the Burn Unit became a source of emotional strength for devastated families," one nomination read. Nurses helped identify patients, kept anxious loved ones informed, and guided families through some of the most devastating decisions a person can face. They offered, as the nomination put it, "comfort, presence, and dignity during the darkest of moments."

That's not in a job description. That's a calling.

UofL Health was clear in its recognition that November 4th didn't reveal something new about these nurses- it simply put a spotlight on what they bring to work every single day. Congratulations to these amazing healthcare heroes! We are proud to have you in our community.

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