Hershberger’s faith leads to receiving the Daisy Award

Alysia Hershberger, RN, doesn’t hide the light of her faith under a bushel. Instead, she proudly shares that badge of honor with the many patients with whom she connects with as a nurse at Pomerene Hospital.

That personal faith has been instrumental in putting many patients at ease as they go through difficult and stressful times in visiting the hospital, and one such patient helped her become the newest addition of Pomerene Hospital’s list of Daisy Award winners.

On Wednesday, May 7, Hershberger, a lifelong Holmes County resident, was awarded the Daisy Award, an honor bestowed upon nurses nationwide who help those in need through their work.

Her nomination letter was written by one of her patients and read during the ceremony, and the letter spoke about how the patient’s experience at Pomerene was excellent, start to finish, but Hershberger’s care stood out.

The patient had to have a toe amputated and was nervous and in despair, and Hershberger knelt down and prayed for her after asking if that would be OK.

“I was very touched by that, and I went into surgery at peace,” the letter said. “I was so grateful for her actions and her prayers.”

Katie Wright, chief nursing officer at Pomerene, said nurses play such a vital role at the hospital every moment of every day, and Hershberger is among the best at what she does.

“We wouldn’t be able to provide this type of care without our wonderful nursing staff,” Wright said. “We receive nominations for this award every day and have so many nurses who are worthy of this honor. Our voting committee really had a hard time deciding on a winner because they all stand out in their body of work.”

Wright said the compassion among the hospital’s nursing staff is top-notch, and faith plays a big role in how the staff approaches their everyday roles.

She said like many of Pomerene’s staff, they are not shy about praying for patients as part of the routine of putting them at ease.

The list of nominees included nursing staff members Maria Burgett, Shannon Dissi, Crystal Stroh, Maria Mast and Kristi Schrock.

Hershberger was very surprised when she walked around the corner of the Med-Surge Unit waiting area to find friends, family and co-workers applauding her as this year’s Daisy Award recipient.

She said she has always had a deep desire to help and serve others after watching the way nurses cared for her grandfather when she was a youngster.

“That definitely sparked my interest,” said Hershberger, who began her career as an aide at the Holmes County Home before becoming part of the Pomerene family.

She began her career there in 2017 as a nurse’s aide and became a full-time nurse in 2022. “This job has been a huge blessing for me. I truly believe that this is what God wants me to be doing. I love taking care of people and being a light to others.”

She said in dealing with difficult days and tough situations, her faith has helped put her at ease, which in turn has helped put to ease the minds and hearts of those going through the pain of visiting the hospital.

Nikki Dalton, Pomerene’s Med Surge special care manager, said Hershberger has devoted herself to exemplifying everything a nurse should be.

“Alysia is one of our most compassionate nurses, and she truly never complains and cares with her entire heart,” Dalton said. “She is a shining example for all of us. She has grown so much through her seven years, and I’m excited for her to win this award.”

The Daisy Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes.

Barnes died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a little known but not uncommon autoimmune disease. Daisy is an acronym for diseases attacking the immune system. The care Barnes and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired the creation of the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses, an evidence-based means of providing recognition and thanking nurses for making a difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

Nurses are nominated for the Daisy Foundation Award by patients whose lives they touched during a visit to the hospital.