Brianna Fouche, a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Mary’s Hospital, has been honored with St. Mary’s DAISY Award for Nursing Excellence. She was nominated by a nursing student she mentored this spring.

The student's nomination praised Fouche's compassion and skill, stating, “Brianna has shown me how to be a caring and compassionate nurse. She excels in patient care while also being a team player. I have seen her place smiles on patients’ faces that have experienced major life changes, and she is quick in action when things do not go as planned.”

A particularly memorable instance for the student involved Fouche caring for a patient recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer who was not expected to recover. The student recounted, “Brianna created such a genuine relationship with this patient, making them smile and laugh, giving them a positive memory to reflect on while staying in the hospital. She has taught me so much about what being a nurse means.”

Ann Gomes, director of Orthopedics and chair of St. Mary’s DAISY Award Committee, commended Fouche, saying, “All of our nurses aim to provide high-level care with higher-level caring, but Brianna truly excels.” Gomes highlighted the difficulty of forming bonds with patients facing life-limiting illnesses, noting that it requires both strength and vulnerability. She added, “It’s what exceptional nurses like Brianna do. We’re so happy she is part of our ministry.”

Fouche, a resident of Jefferson, joined St. Mary’s in June 2021.