St. Mary’s Hospital nurse receives lifetime achievement award

A nurse who has worked at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital for more than three decades has received a lifetime achievement award.

The DAISY Foundation presented Lisa Randazzo, a registered nurse, with the award as part of the nonprofit’s program to recognize nurses who have devoted their lives to the compassionate care of others, according to an SSM Health news release.

Randazzo has served many roles in the hospital. She began her career as a critical care nurse, then moved into leadership. She eventually became the director of critical care in the hospital.

Having worked extensively with heart surgeons in Kansas City, Randazzo arrived in Jefferson City in the late 1980s. She became involved in developing the hospital’s newly initiated open-heart surgery program within the hospital’s intensive care unit, and she trained many of the nurses at her new hospital, according to St. Mary’s officials.

She also served as house administrator, then in 2004 became director of quality and safety, a role in which she continues to serve.

J. Patrick Barnes’ family established the DAISY Foundation in his memory after he died at age 33 in 1999 because of an auto-immune disease. The family wished to thank the nurses who cared for Barnes and his family and made a difference in their lives, and to thank other nurses who made differences in people’s lives.

Patients, families or colleagues may nominate nurses for the awards.

Randazzo’s peers nominated her for the award. They expressed their gratitude for her active mentoring, role modeling, advocating for patients and promoting a positive image of nursing while serving as an inspiration to nurses in all stages of their careers.