2021 DAISY, BEE recipients recognized at Rusk State Hospital

RUSK – A new DAISY award winner has sprung up at Rusk State Hospital. The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award is an internationally recognized achievement given to extraordinary nurses.

One of these nurses, RN Brenda Suarez, has spent almost 10 years of her life serving the geriatric patients of RSH. The San Jacinto Unit can be a great challenge as the patients are not only suffering from mental illness, but also require care similar to that of a nursing home.
Described as “being excellent every day,” Brenda took a Certified Nursing Assistant course while still in high school and became attached to the geriatric population she served. Brenda then hired on to RSH and was provided training and educational opportunities to further her career in nursing. She said that her supervisors “encouraged personal growth” and that she was made to feel comfortable in a psychiatric nursing setting. She chose to work with the geriatrics.
Brenda was very grateful to win the award, commenting that while the “work I’ve put in has been recognized,” she also realizes she doesn’t do it alone.
“I have a wonderful team to work with, I’m proud to work with them, and I get inspired by my coworkers,” she said, adding that she “wishes she could give them a raise.”
Her advice to other employees at RSH is to “care for your coworkers; care for your patients.”
Brenda also serves as a certified Spanish Interpreter.

When not at work and taking care of the elderly, Brenda enjoys playing with a younger crowd: “I love playing with babies and playing with my 4-year-old,” she said.

Meanwhile, a buzz has been in the air at Rusk State Hospital with the nomination of Mr. Charles Bradley as the most recent recipient of the BEE award.
The Being Excellent Everyday award is given to non-nursing Patient Care employees who provide extraordinary service to the people they serve. When a few patients were not wanting to get routine radiology work done, Charles was able to use his rapport with the patients to encourage them to get their EKGs taken.
The patients say that Charles makes them feel safe.

Charles spent 13 years working for a sign company but wanted to work in a field where he could truly help and comfort people. He has spent the last 10 years working for the Security department at RSH and has a strong desire to make people feel safe.
When serving Maximum Security patients, many challenges arise, but Charles finds these challenges to be rewarding.
“I love helping people,” Mr. Bradley said with a sincere smile on his face. “If you are having a bad day, I’ll be there for you.”
He spends a lot of this time one-on-one with patients, getting to know them and helping them with any issues that arise.
Many patients respond well to Charles’ kind humble nature.
When asked what it meant to receive the BEE award he stated “Wow, this was not expected” and that he was “at a loss for words.”
Charles was also a recipient of the Texas Health and Human Services Hospital Hero Award.

When not at work and helping people feel safe, Charles enjoys car shows, riding bicycles and swimming.