UP Health System – Marquette Honors Lauren Angeli, RN, With the DAISY Award

UP Health System – Marquette is proud to recognize Lauren Angeli, RN, Family Birthing Center, as this quarter’s recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®. The DAISY Award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to honor the exceptional, compassionate care nurses provide to patients and families every day.

Angeli’s compassionate care, calming presence and unwavering support left a lasting impact on several families during some of the most important and emotional moments of their lives.

“Lauren was my nurse during labor, delivery and postpartum with my first baby,” one nomination read. “I couldn’t have asked for a better nurse. Her unwavering compassion, support and skill did not go unnoticed. I will never forget how amazing Lauren was during such a special time in my life. She was an integral part of bringing my baby girl into this world.”

Another family shared how Angeli helped ease their fears during a high-risk delivery.

“I became a first-time mom at 40 as an insulin-dependent diabetic,” the patient wrote. “I was afraid. Afraid of what was to come. Would my baby be okay? Could my body really do this? Lauren was kind — so kind and genuine that I remember her through the fog of pain medications, fear and new baby bliss.”

The nomination described how Angeli consistently made the family feel seen, heard and cared for during every interaction.

“She checked on me often and always with 100% presence,” the patient shared. “I never felt like she had any other things to do other than care for us. Of course, she had other patients, but when she was with us, I felt her focus completely.”

Even after her scheduled shift ended, Angeli remained by the patient’s side to ensure a smooth transition of care.

“When I was moved into the epidural room, Lauren’s shift was supposed to have ended. But there she was, transitioning me to the night nurse,” the patient wrote. “In less than 24 hours, I felt like she was my friend.”

The family also recalled Angeli’s extraordinary compassion while caring for their newborn son during difficult blood draws to monitor bilirubin levels.

“I told Lauren how much it hurt my heart to watch,” the patient shared. “She said she could do the next one — that she knew how to hold and comfort him in a way that the lab folks didn’t. I teared up. That is the best way I can explain the care I got from Lauren. I wanted her to do it. All of it. She gained my trust quickly and kept it.”

The patient concluded by sharing the lasting impact Angeli made on their growing family.

“Lauren is an integral part of my experience — I’m forever grateful to her. She’s an incredibly special person. I took a picture of her holding my son for his scrapbook. She will be the only non-family member in it.”

Through every interaction, Angeli demonstrated the compassion, empathy and dedication that define extraordinary nursing care.

“Lauren’s ability to make patients feel safe, supported and genuinely cared for during such life-changing moments is truly remarkable,” said Meg McConnell, DPN, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer at UP Health System – Marquette. “She exemplifies the very best of nursing through her compassion, attentiveness and commitment to both patients and families. We are proud to honor her with the DAISY Award.”

Lauren Angeli, RN, is pictured with leadership during the DAISY Award presentation
at UP Health System – Marquette. From left to right: Jason Collins, Vice President of Operations; Polly Hockberger, Vice President of Operations; Lauren Angeli, RN; Meg McConnell, Chief Nursing Officer; and Julie Nordberg, Executive Director of Nursing.

UP Health System – Marquette also extends recognition to all the extraordinary nurses and caregivers nominated for the DAISY Award this quarter.

• Morganne Badgero, RN, Emergency Department
• Alyssa Padden, RN, Emergency Department
• Mike Murvich, RN, Intensive Care Unit
• Emma Evans, RN, Emergency Department
• Dave Carlson, RN, Krista Fuller, RN, Drew Johnson, RN, and Zack Pavlat, RN, Intensive Care Unit
• James Van Eck, RN, Behavioral Health
• Natalie Swick, RN, Intensive Care Unit
• Erin Ruehle, RN, Cardiac
• Jamie Beaubier, RN, Staffing Pool
• Lindsay Heino, RN, Intensive Care Unit
• Zack Pavlat, RN, Intensive Care Unit
• Jason Doney, RN, Intensive Care Unit
• Miranda Badour, RN, Intermediate Care Unit
• Alina Homola, RN, Neurology, Orthopedics and Pediatrics
• Carly Kangas, RN, Family Birthing Center
• Jess Chapron, RN, Family Birthing Center
• Shalyn Hill, RN, Family Birthing Center
• Emma Flanigan, RN, Heart and Vascular
• Jacqueline “Jack” Williams, RN, Intensive Care Unit
• Sam Pagliarini, RN, Neurology, Orthopedics and Pediatrics
• Jordan Woiak, RN, Sixth Floor
• Mera Enos, RN, Sixth Floor
• Elise Berg, RN, Family Birthing Center
• Adalee Beller, RN, Neurology, Orthopedics and Pediatrics
• Claire Smith, RN, Neurology, Orthopedics and Pediatrics
• Morgan Pohlman, RN and Sierra Ellet, RN, Cardiac
• Kate Pilarski, RN, Family Birthing Center
• Alison Kangas, LPN, Outpatient Pulmonary
• Sarah Parkinson, RN, Cancer Center
• Olivia Koepp, RN, Behavioral Health

The DAISY Foundation was created in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died in 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The care Barnes and his family received from nurses during his illness inspired the foundation and its global effort to honor and thank nurses for their skill and compassion. (DAISY stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.)

Patients, families and colleagues may nominate nurses for the DAISY Award. Nominations are reviewed by a committee at UP Health System – Marquette, and honorees are celebrated during a formal presentation attended by peers, leadership and family. Each DAISY Award recipient receives a certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a hand-carved sculpture titled A Healer’s Touch, created by artists of the Shona tribe in Zimbabwe.

To nominate a nurse for the DAISY Award, visit our website. To learn more about the DAISY Foundation, visit The DAISY Foundation.