Congratulations to Atalia Lapkin, BSN, RN (pictured left with Kristi Hartway, Chief Nurse Executive at Good Samaritan Hospital) on being honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Atalia is a nurse in the intensive care unit at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital.
Throughout her career, Atalia Lapkin’s work has centered on being of service to others. Atalia started out in the nonprofit sector at a social service agency, then switched tracks for a more hands-on experience — nursing school.
“I knew I needed a job that allowed me to directly provide help, advocacy and care for my community,” she explains. “What attracted me to nursing is that it not only covered those bases, but it’s also a team sport. You’re never alone, especially in the ICU, and I get to do science all day. I love it.”
Making a difference during COVID-19
After nursing school, Atalia joined MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital’s donor-supported intensive care unit (ICU) in the middle of the pandemic. She vividly remembers when all 40 beds were filled with COVID-19 patients. While she found the situation to be incredibly heartbreaking, she focused on building relationships and thinking creatively to meet each person’s unique needs.
Nurse Manager Kristin Cross, Atalia’s supervisor, recalls one instance where the ICU nurse answered a call light for a very sick COVID-19 patient and exemplified respect, excellence and kindness.
“Atalia got a paper towel, wrote down the alphabet and took the time for the patient to point out every single letter to be able to communicate with us,” Kristin shares.
Several months later, “my leader and co-manager were at dinner, and the patient came and told us about Atalia,” she continues. “That’s what they remember — that somebody took the time when they couldn’t speak or communicate to use a paper towel and get them what they needed.”
Winning the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses
Within her first year of practice, another patient nominated Atalia for the DAISY Award, which celebrates nurses’ extraordinary compassion. Both the patient and their partner attended the award ceremony, moving Atalia to tears.
“I’m gonna be honest, I cried in front of everybody,” Atalia laughs. “The patient looked me in the eye and said, ‘I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. I’ve never ever felt like anyone in health care was actually invested in me getting better until I met you.’”
While Atalia had always aimed to provide care worthy of such an award, she was humbled to receive a nomination and then win so early in her nursing career.
Kristin and the entire Good Samaritan ICU couldn’t be prouder.
“There’s a lot of pride in Atalia’s success,” Kristin says. “She’s a go-getter. She absolutely deserves it. She’s come along really, really fast.”
Supporting our nurses and East Pierce County
In Atalia’s two years and Kristin’s 16 years at Good Samaritan Hospital, each has felt the impact of the community’s generosity through MultiCare Good Samaritan Foundation.
For the ICU, Kristin is thankful for the gifts of a suite to accommodate neuro patients; meals during COVID-19 when she and her team couldn’t afford to step away; security equipment to increase staff and patient safety; and four Mamava pods, which offer private and clean spaces for breastfeeding parents to pump. All were made possible by compassionate Foundation donors.
“Without the donations, we wouldn’t stay afloat or get those special things,” Kristin says.
Atalia further sees philanthropy playing a substantial role in contributing to a healthier future for the community she serves.
“It’s just so important, especially in a community whose population has outpaced our ability to provide care,” she explains. “Having those resources to go and help will make a change in people’s lives for the better.”
About DAISY. The DAISY Awards are presented at MultiCare hospitals and honor licensed nursing professionals in more than 2,000 health care facilities worldwide.
The awards were established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at 33 of an autoimmune disease. The Barnes family was so moved by the nursing care Patrick received that they created the awards to recognize nurses for outstanding patient care, clinical skills and extraordinary compassion in nursing.
