The Peru Gazette

Jesse Murnane, RN (left) proudly displays her DAISY Award certificate with Patricia Johnson, MSN, RN, OCN. Johnson nominated Murnane for the care she provided her adult son, who was terrified of getting an IV before a scheduled procedure. “She understood his barriers and limitations and did not rush him. She helped him to relax and focus, and that made all the difference,” Johnson says.

The Interventional Radiology team at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital celebrates the DAISY Award presented to colleague Jesse Murnane, RN during a surprise ceremony.

Nurse Jesse Murnane honored for helping patient overcome fear before procedures 

 CVPH News Release of Jan. 12, 2026, Plattsburgh, NY – For Patricia Johnson’s son, it started with a simple fear – one many people can relate to. The sight of an IV needle was enough to trigger overwhelming anxiety for him.

Years of medical interventions meant an IV wasn’t just a step in a medical process. It was a source of fear. When he arrived for a procedure at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, Jesse Murnane, RN, understood building trust would be critical.

Going Beyond Clinical Care

“They hit it off immediately,” Johnson recalls. “She advocated for him to receive some oral medication to calm him before starting an IV. It worked wonders!”

That first encounter left a lasting impression. Later, fate brought Murnane back into their lives when Johnson’s son needed another procedure. Murnane’s familiar face and sense of humor helped ease his fears all over again.

“She made sure the oral medication was ordered and stayed with him to be sure he was relaxed enough to get his IV,” Johnson says. “The pre-op experience was stress-free for him.”

Giving the Patient Time

For Johnson, who has fought for compassionate, patient-centered care for her son for 37 years, Murnane’s approach was extraordinary. She didn’t rush. She didn’t push. Instead, she gave him time to find the right words and acclimate to everything happening around him.

“My son wasn’t treated like a procedure to be expedited,” she shares. “He was treated like a human being who mattered. Thank you, Jesse!”

Recognizing Extraordinary Nurses

For her commitment to dignity and personalized care, Murnane was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses during a surprise ceremony with her Interventional Radiology colleagues. During the award presentation, she received a certificate commending her as an extraordinary nurse. Murnane, like all honorees, also received a DAISY Award pin.

Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2018 to recognize and reward licensed nurses for making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients. Nomination forms and boxes are located at each of the hospital’s main entrances and online at UVMHealth.org. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues.  A committee reviews nominations and awards a deserving nurse each quarter.

The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. The DAISY Foundation is a national 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. More information is available at DAISYfoundation.org.