SVMC Name DAISY Award Recipient

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BENNINGTON, Vt. — Registered Nurse Amanda Shakar has been named Southwestern Vermont Health Care's (SVHC) first recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
 
"Our nurses truly pour their whole hearts and minds into the work they do every day," Pamela Duchene, PhD, APRN, vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer said. "The DAISY Award is a way for SVHC to ensure that our nurses receive recognition and praise for their compassionate and highly skilled work."
 
Duchene made the announcement earlier this month during a surprise presentation in the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center intensive care unit. Shakar was nominated by a patient and selected from several nominations.
 
"I am extremely humbled and touched to be recognized as the first SVHC DAISY Award Recipient," Shakar said. "This award acknowledges the unique and important bond that nurses share with their patients and the families they care for."
 
Shakar holds two baccalaureate degrees and received her associate's degree in nursing through Vermont Technical College in 2015. She is currently pursuing her MSN at Chamberlain University. She started working at SVMC in 2017 and specializes in critical care nursing. She trains and precepts new nurses, is a certified BLS instructor, and is a member of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. She also co-chairs SVHC's evidence-based practice council and co-facilitates SVMC's nursing journal club.  
 
"I accept this award with the acknowledgement that a nurse is only as good as her leadership and teammates," Shakar said. "They inspire me and teach me every day."
 
The DAISY Award is part of a national merit-based recognition program established by the DAISY Foundation. It celebrates nurses' education, training, and skill. Nominations can be submitted by patients, families, physicians, and colleagues. All nominations are blinded, so that they are anonymous before being reviewed by a selection committee. One nurse is then chosen as the DAISY Award winner. DAISY Awards are presented on a regular basis, usually bi-monthly or quarterly.
 

Tags: nursing,   SVMC,   

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December is the Start of Bird Feeding Season

MONTPELIER, Mass. — According to Vermont Fish and Wildlife, December is the Start of bird feeding season.
 
"Winter bird feeding is a great way to observe and learn about our year-round bird residents such as black capped chickadees, nuthatches and blue jays. It's also a great time to learn about winter visitors such as evening and pine grosbeaks." said Jillian Kilborn, Vermont Fish and Wildlife's bird project leader. 
 
Here are some basic bird feeding tips from Vermont Fish and Wildlife:
  • Make your own feeding mixture to maximize the number of species visiting your yard. Black oil sunflower seed is a favorite of many birds, but when mixed with "thistle" (or "nyjer") or cracked corn you will be sure to attract a wide variety of species. Don't forget the suet to attract woodpeckers and even chickadees.
  • Mix up the type of feeders you use. Hopper feeders are great for large birds such as blue jays, while tube feeders are best for smaller birds. Elevated tray feeders will attract birds that usually feed on the ground including juncos and larger bodied winter visitors such as evening grosbeaks.
  • Place your feeders near natural habitat, or even add a habitat for birds to hide. A Christmas tree is a great addition to a snowbank next to your feeder to provide quick cover. 
  • Keep your feeders clean. Only put out enough food for a day, and wash feeders every couple of weeks in a 10 percent bleach solution and let dry to prevent the spread of bacteria and disease.
 If you decide to feed birds, remember:
  • Feeding can expose birds to hazards they might otherwise avoid. The risks of predation are higher close to people, especially from domestic cats -- the leading cause of bird deaths in North America. Keep cats inside and take feeders down if predators become frequent visitors. Also, we recommend placing feeders within three feet of windows to minimize high speed window strikes.
  • Don't feed birds when bears are active. Most bears are in dens from Dec. 1 to April 1, but some will delay hibernation or re-emerge to feed during periods of warmer weather. Remove bird feeders immediately if you see signs of bears or know a bear is active in your community. Bears that learn to associate food with a house will continue to return, potentially leading to property damage and dangerous encounters with people. Further, it is illegal to feed bears in Vermont.
  • Once you've started feeding the birds, keep your feeders stocked. Although wild birds are not entirely dependent on bird feeders, they can become accustomed to this easy food source. If you wish to stop feeding during winter months, gradually taper off the amount of food you provide rather than stopping abruptly, giving the birds a chance to find other food sources. This is especially important when food is scarce in late winter or during periods of extreme weather. Immediately remove feeders if there are reports of HPAI (Avian Influenza) or even a bacterial infection outbreak. Concentrating birds at a feeder only contributes to the spread of diseases. If you find a dead bird visit the Avian Influenza Wildlife Health Bulletin on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website for more information on when to report, and what to do.
  • Finally, report your observations. While watching your bird feeders, you can participate in one or more bird monitoring projects by looking up the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the Great Backyard Bird Count and Project Feeder Watch and eBird -- all collect important information for understanding bird populations.
As winter sets in, find a comfortable spot inside where you can watch the birds visiting your feeders. Figure out what birds they are, observe how they interact with each other, and see what they prefer to eat. It's a perfect way to get to know the birds around you better.
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