Regional West recently recognized Ervin VonSeggern, BSN, RN, as the facility’s 2023 DAISY Award winner during its annual employee recognition celebration.

The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates excellence in nursing. Established by the DAISY Foundation to recognize and honor the inspiring work that nurses do every day, there are now over 2,500 healthcare facilities in all 50 states, plus 14 countries, that have committed to recognizing their extraordinary nurses with the DAISY Award. DAISY Award recipients personify Regional West’s commitment to outstanding healthcare services and demonstrate dedication to excellence through clinical expertise, compassionate patient care, and extraordinary service.

VonSeggern spent a decade working as the general manager of a carpet cleaning company before he pursued a nursing career. After attaining his Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Scottsbluff, he started at Regional West and has put down roots in the community.

When he was in nursing school during the COVID-19 pandemic, he cared for patients who were unable to have visits from their loved ones due to public health restrictions. He remembered seeing a commercial from COVID Tech Connect, a nonprofit that donated tablets to hospitals to help patients and their families video chat, and he decided to reach out to them. Because of his efforts, Regional West received 15 iPads and he earned the Nebraska State Student Nurse of the Year award.

“It was something I wanted to do for the hospital to help the patients who couldn’t see their families during the worst time in their lives,” he said.

VonSeggern received numerous DAISY Award nominations that reflected his dedication to patient care. One nominee shared that his personable approach made all the difference in their stay.

“No matter how busy he was, he always said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ve got you!’ This made us (my wife and I), feel better during this stressful time. He made time to understand our concerns and feel special even when he was extremely busy. I was his patient and at that time, his only concern. He wears many hats on each of his shifts, but he made me feel that I was his number one.”

Another nominee said, “He is the kindest, most helpful, joyful, and upbeat nurse we’ve ever known. What a guy, with the compassion you love to see from a nurse. It shows that he loves what he does.”

Since winning the DAISY Award, VonSeggern moved to Regional West’s intensive care unit (ICU). He said that being a second-career nurse has helped provide a different perspective, with many of his previous job’s skills such as interpersonal communication and attention to detail helping in his current role.

“I think my natural personality matches nursing,” he said. “I get to see people go from the worst day of their life to walking out of the hospital, and that’s rewarding.”