BENNINGTON, Vt. — Seline Skoug, RN, of the Emergency Department, was the September recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC).

 

Skoug was nominated by a fellow nurse colleague from the Women's and Children's Department for her role in making a patient more comfortable.

 

The nomination read:

 

"A patient arrived to the Emergency Department (ED) reporting abdominal pain, not aware that she was pregnant and in labor. The patient was afraid, overwhelmed, and alone with no support person available. Seline met the patient in the ED and accompanied her to Women's and Children's, while creating a bond with the patient. The connection between the patient and Seline was apparent, as they held hands and Seline provided labor support, breathing with the patient as she contracted. The nurse stayed by her side throughout her entire labor and delivery, while her ED colleagues worked together to cover her assignment. Seline returned when her shift was over to check on the patient with flowers in hand."

 

"It was magical," Skoug said. "She asked me to stay with her, so I had to be there. I'm grateful to the ED team who covered me, so I could stay with the patient. I made sure the flowers I brought up the next day came with a note from all of us in the ED. The Women's and Children's nurse by our side was amazing to work with, as we embraced this patient during a challenging time in her life." 

 

Skoug has been a licensed practical nurse at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) since 2010 and a EMT/AEMT with Arlington Rescue Squad since 2005. She has worked in the family practice, pediatrics, ExpressCare, and the ED settings. When she received her associate's in nursing from Vermont Tech in 2020, she continued in the Emergency Department as an RN. In addition, Seline earned a master's in healthcare administration from Simmons College in Boston. She sits on the SVMC Nursing Advisory Committee, the ED Nursing Advisory Committee, and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. 

 

"Seline is a special nurse," said Pam Duchene, vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC). "When provided the opportunity, she overcame any uncertainty of her own and eagerly stepped into the family role for a patient in need. That's remarkable."  

 

The DAISY Award is part of a national merit-based recognition program established by the DAISY Foundation. It celebrates nurses' education, training, and skill. Nominations can be submitted by patients, families, physicians, and colleagues. All nominations are blinded, so that they are anonymous before being reviewed by a selection committee. One nurse is then chosen as the DAISY Award winner. DAISY Awards are presented on a regular basis, usually bi-monthly or quarterly.