We all know that nurses have a difficult job, but we may not be aware just how difficult it is until we have had to spend hours, days or even weeks in the care of a nurse. Many nurses go above and beyond the call of duty to make their patients feel like family, providing specialized care and taking note of emotional or spiritual needs that may not be listed in their patients’ charts. The experience that a patient and his or her family have with a nurse can completely change their entire hospital experience. For these nurses that provide outstanding care, compassion and skill, we have the DAISY Foundation Award.
The DAISY Foundation Award is an international nursing award that recognizes nurses who demonstrate qualities of professionalism in all aspects of patient care and are positive role models. While co-workers can nominate nurses for this award, the DAISY Foundation Award was created so that patients and their families can nominate a nurse for special recognition, and is a way for these patients to express their gratitude to a nurse who did everything imaginable to make them feel special.
Lovelace Medical Center and Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital have partnered with the DAISY Foundation to recognize the superlative nurses within our organization who treat their patients like family through the DAISY Award program. Nurses can be nominated by employees, patients, families or visitors. Winners receive an award certificate, along with a DAISY Award pin that they can proudly wear to work. DAISY winners also receive special parking for three months and eight hours of paid time off. In addition they receive a hand-carved sculpture created by the Shona tribe in Zimbabwe called “A Healer’s Touch”, which represents the caring relationship the nurse has with his or her patient. The money this tribe earns from creating these sculptures helps the artists to feed their families and keep their children in school.
While these perks may make winners feel special, the DAISY Award is not an incentive program for nurses, but is truly a way for patients, families and staff members to recognize nursing excellence. Outstanding nurses provide good outcomes at hospitals, and great nurses can make a real difference in the lives of those they touch.
“I think it’s amazing to have recognition for nurses and the care they give,” said Jessie Sandon, RN, a recent DAISY Award winner at Lovelace Medical Center.
Sometimes great service can go unrecognized, but the DAISY Foundation Award gives Lovelace another chance to provide recognition to our excellent nurses. If you or a loved one has had an experience with a nurse that you think deserves this recognition, you can nominate him or her for a DAISY Award by visiting lovelace.com/daisy-award-nomination-form.