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DAISY winner described as role model by Heather Woolwine Public Relations Fellow nurses, a boyfriend from out of town, hospital administrators and other fans of February’s DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award winner hovered behind a pull-curtain in an empty pediatric emergency exam room. But as the room reached capacity, there was no hiding the gathering of people; as Sheila Prynkiewicz, R.N., Children’s Emergency Department, entered the room and realization set in, she clapped, jumped, squealed, spun, and stomped for joy.   Prynkiewicz was nominated for the award by Pam Smith, R.N., and in tradition of all DAISY winners, received an African Shona Tribe sculpture entitled, “A Healer’s Touch,” a framed certificate, fresh daisies, and a DAISY Award pin. The DAISY Foundation also delivered cinnamon rolls to all the nurses in her unit.   “Sheila is an excellent role model and example of a professional nurse. She is one of the most compassionate nurses I have ever met and is truly a patient advocate. She became a SANE nurse two years ago and has volunteered her time on call to help cover sexual assault exams,” Smith wrote in her nomination.   “She has worked to educate the rest of the staff members in the ED to improve their work with sexual and physical assault patients. She volunteered her time in a clinic in Nepal last year and has sponsored a yard sale to send financial support back to that same clinic. She can provide care to the sickest patient in the ED as well as to the episodic care patient or parent who needs emotional reassurance. She embodies many of the qualities of the DAISY award.”   The monthly award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day and is co-sponsored by Sandpiper Retirement Community, a continuum of care retirement community in Mount Pleasant.  MUSC is among 50 medical facilities honoring nurses with The DAISY Award. This is one initiative of the foundation whose overall goal is to help fight diseases of the immune system.   Additional information is available at http://www.daisyfoundation.org.     Friday, March 31, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island papers at 849-1778, ext. 201.