Lisa Bernstein recognized for compassionate care for veterans

Lisa Bernstein, a nurse with the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, has been honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®.

The award is part of The DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.

Presented in August, the award included a sculpture called The Healer’s Touch. Hand-carved by artists in Zimbabwe, each piece is signed by one of the many Shona artists that The DAISY Foundation supports.

Bernstein “has the highest respect for our veterans,” according to her nomination. She “spent endless amounts of time with (hospice) veterans to ensure they do not die alone, especially in this time of COVID-19 (isolation).”

The nomination continued by describing how Bernstein “has been observed sitting with veterans, playing music for them, singing with them or giving a tender ‘we love you’ to those needing it most.

“Lisa goes above and beyond to make sure veterans are cared for with the utmost professional standards and compassion.”

Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues, and the award recipient is chosen by a committee at the medical center.

“Lisa exhibits the highest standards of professionalism and compassion and is very deserving of this award,” said Chandra Miller, associate director for Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at the VA. “She demonstrates our ICARE values of integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence in everything she does.

“We are proud to be among the health care organizations participating in The DAISY Award program. Nurses are heroes every day. It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that.”

Bernstein is a licensed-practical nurse, who was born and raised in Poplar Bluff and who has long-wanted to work at VA.

“To work with our veterans has been my goal from the start,” Bernstein said. “Throughout my career, all my encounters with patients have been special.

“But, there’s something even more special about caring for a veteran. I have found the John J. Pershing VA mission to ring true; we are truly veteran focused. To have the opportunity to care for those who served us is an immeasurable privilege.”

Asked if she likes her job, Bernstein said, “To like this job would be an understatement. To love the calling would more accurate.

“To help someone at their most vulnerable state, keeping their dignity intact and to win their trust is important. But, to maintain that trust day after day, and even after they’ve left us, is what’s most important. Our greatest compliment is having some of our veterans call or come visit us after (recovery.)”

Bernstein was surprised by the award.

“I heard my name, but looked around for Lisa Bernstein,” she said. “I truly didn’t comprehend what had been said. It was when I turned back to see Mrs. Chandra Miller looking directly at me and for me to come forward, that I realized I was the person named.

“How did I feel? Numb and unworthy. I was literally surrounded by the most brilliant class of nurses that outshine me on their worst day. And yet, here they were smiling and offering congratulations and tears of joy. How lucky am I to have them?”

The award, Bernstein said, is not about her.

“It’s about every nurse who answers the call. Accolades is not the reason we do what we do,” she said. “It’s that smile, or hug or glint in the eye which tells us we’ve done our job well.

“To give of yourself day in and day out, to wake up in the middle of the night wondering if you’ve done your best for a patient. It’s also about the staff member who taught me my duties. … So, basically, I’m a reflection of people who have taught, guided and corrected my steps. And for that I’m grateful.”