Griffin Health in Derby honors nurse with prestigious DAISY Award

Griffin Health Nurse Marianxhela (Lela) Heltke, LPN, of Hamden./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Health recently honored Marianxhela “Lela” Heltke, LPN, of Hamden, with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate care nurses provide patients and families every day. Winners can be nominated by patients, patients’ family or friends, or fellow caregivers for their exemplary care.

Heltke, a “float” nurse in Griffin Hospital’s inpatient units, was nominated by a patient’s daughter for her professionalism and patient-centered care.

“Lela provided compassion with each interaction, not just with my mom, but with me as her caregiver,” the nomination for Heltke stated. “She has a passion for the profession of nursing in her genuine approach she provides, and is the perfect example of a Planetree caregiver as evidenced by her attitude and ambition for positive patient outcomes. She established a positive relationship with my mom and I from the first moment she introduced herself, and was knowledgeable and confident in the care she provided and was responsive to questions and my mom's needs.”

Information about the DAISY Award is included in Griffin Health patient information packets and nomination forms are available online and at all Griffin Health locations. The award recipients are chosen by a committee at Griffin and the award is presented throughout the year. For more information, visit griffinhealth.org/daisy.

About The DAISY Foundation

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. 

DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.


This is a press release from Griffin Health.