DAISY Award Recognizes Compassionate Nurses
When registered nurse Melissa Hoffman advocated for a family during a difficult labor, delivery, and post-partum period, Birthing Center Manager Shannon McCarthy-Leone took notice and paused to reflect on the kind, compassionate, and skilled care Melissa provides on a regular basis.
It seemed fitting to Shannon to nominate Melissa for something new to Thompson Health – a nationwide award program called The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. Sure enough, after poring over two dozen nominations of nurses from staff members, patients, and families, Thompson’s DAISY committee ultimately chose Melissa to be the first DAISY recipient within the health system. They surprised her in the executive boardroom with an awards presentation and celebration.
Melissa said receiving the award is a reminder of the impact a smile can have on people, and the even bigger impact nurses can have when they are entrusted with patients during their most vulnerable moments.
“It’s such a special, sacred job to care and show compassion every day,” Melissa said. “To be noticed is nothing I look for, but knowing someone sees that special sparkle means so much because I can only hope it will motivate them to be the light in someone’s life.”
Registered nurse Aimee Nesbitt of the Emergency Department is the latest recipient of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
Nesbitt, a Branchport resident, was surprised with her award at work on December 8. She was nominated by a woman following her father’s visit to the Emergency Department.
“The care, attention, and empathy from Aimee Nesbitt was outstanding! The teamwork and her leadership with PCTs (patient care technicians) was also excellent!” the nomination read, adding that Nesbitt was “spot on” with a great attitude and “treated my father and other patients with great respect and care.”
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by his family members. He died at the age of 33 in 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care he and his family received from nurses in Seattle while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a difference in the lives of their patients and families.
Thompson Health Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer Hazel Robertshaw noted during the ceremonies that often when a nurse receives a DAISY Award the response is, “I didn’t do anything special. I was just doing my job.”
“What the DAISY nurse may not realize is that when nurses are ‘just doing their jobs,’ they have such an important, meaningful impact on the lives of so many,” Hazel said.
Both recipients received a certificate, a pin, and a hand-carved sculpture called A Healer’s Touch. As DAISY recipients, they are also eligible for scholarships, discounts on certifications, and medical mission grants from The DAISY Foundation.
To nominate a Thompson nurse to be a DAISY recipient, visit www.ThompsonHealth.com/DAISY. Paper nomination forms are also available on each nursing unit and at various system locations. To learn more about the program, visit http://DAISYfoundation.org.