Serving with Care

EUGENE, Ore. — Recent Bushnell University graduate Peter Leighton ’24 has quickly demonstrated to his patients, coworkers, and supervisors his dedicated compassion for those in his care. He recently received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses for carefully attending to a patient and communicating the patient’s needs to the rest of the medical team, leading to timely and important treatment. 

The DAISY Award is given to nurses who demonstrate kindness, compassion, and excellence in clinical care. Award honorees can be nominated by patients, family members, or coworkers. In Leighton’s case, a doctor recommended him, which is an incredible testament to his work. 

The case for which Leighton was nominated involved a patient experiencing persistent abdominal pain during post-op recovery. The team had hoped the patient’s pain would recede once the chest tube was removed and with some mobility and personal care. However, when the pain continued, Peter circled back with the provider to relay that information. The team performed a CTA test, which showed a likely ulcer perforation, and trauma services then performed a laparoscopic repair of the perforated ulcer. The patient was transferred to the ICU. 

“Peter exemplified his ability to advocate for the patient through excellent team communication,” the recommending provider explains. “Peter’s persistence and attention to detail played an integral part in this patient’s care.” 

Leighton’s care and communication stem from his training in Bushnell’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and from his work with the church. “The School of Nursing embraces Bushnell’s mission to foster wisdom, faith, and service in our graduates, to send out educated and skilled nurses who demonstrate compassion and respect to all people served,” shares Bushnell’s Director of Nursing, Katy Lemieux, MSN, RN. “Peter Leighton exemplifies what it means to provide compassionate and quality care from a Christ-centered perspective. He leads a Bible study in his home with his wife, and his faith strongly influences his nursing practice, as demonstrated by the attention and advocacy he provides to and for his patients.” 

For his part, Leighton points out that many other nurses at the hospital provide quality care, he just happened to be recognized for his work. He also gives credit to God.  

“Christ is everything,” he shares. “Seeing everyone through the lens of the human condition is the only way to get through each day. Everyone needs grace, even coworkers. Go to work everyday prepared to wash some disgusting feet and realize yours are no cleaner.” 

That compassionate mindset, he explains, fuels his perseverance through each day’s challenges and shapes how he approaches every patient interaction. Leighton also credits Bushnell with teaching him about “bedside care, complex care management, and some of the subtleties associated with complex cases” and with helping him to “develop the nursing skills (competence) to care for my patients.” 

Bushnell is proud to celebrate Leighton, not only for this award, but also for the humility and excellence with which he serves his patients. 

Bushnell University offers several nursing degree programs, including an online RN to BSN program and the ABSN program. To learn more or find out if our programming is right for you, visit our School of Nursing webpage.