The Great Falls Clinic hosted its first DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses ® ceremony. The first winner of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses ® is Sarah White from Inpatient Care Unit. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. Sarah was described as an “angel with wings undercover,” in her nomination because of her positive attitude, demonstrated great skill in treatments, and being comforting during the patient’s time in recovery. Her nominator described how Sarah’s care brought assurance through recovery, “She was so positive and cheerful; it gave me hope and peace that he was receiving the best care possible.”
Nurses were nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. The award recipient was chosen by a committee at Great Falls Clinic to receive The DAISY Award. Awards were given out during the ceremony attended by the Honoree’s colleagues, patients, family, and visitors. The honoree received a certificate commending her as an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” Honoree Sarah White RN also received a DAISY Award pin, and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. All the DAISY nominees for this quarter were Alisa Rodriquez RN, Colby Black RN, Casey Calbick LPN, Mark Barry LPN, Julie Haviland LPN, Kim Kynett RN, Karen Slotness RN, Patsy Kirkhart LPN, Kim Humerick LPN, Amy Shields RN, Kensie Butts RN, Breanna Reichelt RN, and Nicole Kilian RN. These nominees were awarded certificates and unique nominee DAISY pins. After the awards were given to the honoree and nominees, attendees were treated with cinnamon rolls which is an honored tradition of the DAISY Foundation. Celebrations continued at the break room in the hospital where winner Sarah works. All ICU team members received cinnamon rolls and the break room was decorated with a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses ® banner.
“We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in The DAISY Award program. Nurses go above and beyond 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,” said Chief Nursing Officer Rachel Pahut. Nominations are open right now for The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses ® in quarter four period. You can nominate a nurse at our DAISY submission boxes or online at Daisy Award – Great Falls Clinic (gfclinic.com).
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 5,300 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of Nurse-led Teams, Nurse Leaders, Nurses Advancing Health Equity, Nursing Faculty, Nursing Students, Lifetime Achievement in Nursing and through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, Medical Mission Grants and their new Health Equity Grant programs. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.