A DAISY nurse roams the corridors of IU Health Bedford Hospital with a towering 6’5″ tall body filled with a heart filled with love and care.
With a commitment to caring for others enhanced by a focus on safety, Mitch Fields, RN, BSN, OCN, approaches her work with calm reassurance to comfort patients and members in the group.
“He quietly and humbly goes through his days, in a way that doesn’t make a fuss, touches hearts and lives and makes things better for those around him,” Director IU Health Bedford Hospital nurse, Amy Little, DNP, RN, NE said -BC. “For the patients who are fighting terrifying battles for their existence, he stands by them and brings light into the darkness.”
Diana Friedman, BSN, RN, CMSRN, clinical manager of cancer services at IU Health Bedford Hospital, can corroborate that claim. After all, she’s known Fields for nearly a decade and describes him as “the embodiment of a DAISY nurse.”
One might ask, “What is his secret?” Friedman shares that Fields puts three things first:
- Efficiently communicate
- Build relationships with others
- Collaboration in patient care at all levels
And though his dedication to knowledge, safety, communication, respect, and empathy makes him a great cancer nurse, there’s still something… complementary to this individual, who people often refer to as the “big teddy bear”. As one patient who had known Fields for years explained, this nurse’s ability to truly care about people was rooted in his core.
“When talking to patients, families, and colleagues about Mitch, a word comes up again and again,” Little says. “He’s dedicated, consistent, understanding, caring and kind — always.”
He is known as someone who is willing to ask questions and reassure, and he knows how important it is to feel safe for both the patient and the team members.
That’s why his team is so excited to celebrate his nomination for the 2022 DAISY Award for Outstanding Nurse in Patient Safety.
Friedman said, “It was an honor to work alongside him every day. I would like to recognize and thank Mitch for being the shining star in our unit and for always prioritizing the care and safety of our patients. He is truly an inspiration to all of us.”
