DAISY Award Winners

Kelly Hagestuen - Labor & Delivery
This nurse is the definition of a compassionate and caring nurse. She has absolutely set the bar for high expectations. I could have never imagined my labor experience without her.
I came in for labor of fetal demise in 2013 at 18 weeks. She Was there for every second and cried along with us. In fact, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room that day. She prayed with us, laughed with us, and cried with us. She later sent a sympathy letter to my home, making my thoughts of her that much higher. The comfort she provided was very unexpected.
In 2021 I was back again in the OB department for another fetal demise delivery at 16 weeks. When I arrived in the morning, I was greeted by emphatic hugs. Kelly and the entire team of nurses and doctors that day had a clear understanding of all we have been through. I later learned that his was supposed to be Kelly’s day off and when she saw me on the schedule the day prior, she picked up another shift because she knew she wanted to be there for me. 8 years later!!! How amazing is that? I have never met such a caring nurse in all of my experiences, anywhere. She said when my husband and I come back for a healthy delivery, she better not miss it because she wanted to share the joy since she was there for all the pain
She has set a standard of care that I hope all our nurses can meet.
CRMC implemented the DAISY award this year and Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse Kelly Hagestuen was the first recipient. Others nurses nominated for the award this quarter were: Rachel Aulie, RN; Rita Bare, RN; Laura Berhow, LPN; Shania Bjerkness, RN; Shirley Borg, LPN; Richard Conway, RN; Dawn Hicok, LPN; Laura Hoffard, CMA; Nicole Karelis, RN; Melanie Knosalla, RN; Ben Mooers, LPN; Lisa Mooers, LPN; Darcy Otto, RN; Angela Rieber, RN; Jodi Summers-Riese, LPN; Darcy Rowan, RN; Christine Roy, RN; Nicole Russell, RN; Teresa Shafer, RN; Honi Strange, RN; Kennedee Walczak, RN; and Bonnie Wermter, LPN.

Dena Pribbenow - LPN
Cuyuna Regional Medical Center Licensed Practical Nurse Dena Pribbenow of Brainerd was recently honored with the organization’s DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses in recognition of her compassionate care of an elderly woman with a complex medical history.
Colleagues of Pribbenow and the patient’s two daughters gathered in the Internal Medicine Clinic August 1 for a ceremony presenting her with the prestigious award.
Because of the patient’s recent decline in health, she and her family needed extra guidance, attention, and support from professionals. Pribbenow went above and beyond as a professional nurse with her compassionate words and actions. She was not only there for the patient in her most difficult moments but also for family members as they decided what the next best steps were for their mom.
The nominator wrote, “At times my sister and I would cry to Dena coming to reality with the changing of our mom and the next steps we had to take. She took time out of her busy schedule to sit with us or have a phone conversation as things arose. Dena brought hope and a new perspective to our family when we needed it the most. At one of my mom's last appointments, she was at her worst. My mom was exhausted. We were exhausted. Dr. Bostrom just finished with a draining appointment and in came Dena at the end. It could have been a very awkward moment, but Dena took the initiative, and care, to confront my mom. She gave my mom the pep talk that she NEEDED to hear at that moment! Dena spoke with pep, sympathy, and understanding. Dena's impromptu go get em' speech changed my mom's perspective, and because of that, it has relieved the unwanted stress in our family. Our family looks forward to continuing to work with Dena and Dr. Bostrom. They make a fantastic team!”
Pribbenow, who has been a member of CRMC’s staff for 10 years, worked as a Medical Transcriptionist for seven years before becoming a nurse. She earned her nursing degree at Central Lakes College in Staples.
Other nominees for the award included nurses Maridel Anderson, Mark Asmus, Pamela Beebe, Jennifer Breidenbach, Pam Bye, Angie Cobb, Sarah Daniels, Nikki Davidson, Kim Emerson, Dan Flier, Carman Henningson, Kelly Kommer, Dana Larson, Laurie Murphy, Trisha Mykkanen, Ashley Otto, Elizabeth Robinson, Rhonda Swehla, Courtney Thull, Andrea Vogt, and Mitchell Yager.