Founded in 1999, the DAISY Award honors nurses for the work and care they provide every day for their patients. San Juan Regional Medical Center offers patients and staff the opportunity to nominate nurses for this special award, and celebrates the individuals who have received the award. DAISY recipients at SJRMC are found across the departments, and have been nominated by both patients and peers. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and CMIT Solutions
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A group of nurses and fellow caregivers gathered on the ground floor of San Juan Regional Medical Center, passing out cinnamon rolls and other sweet treats, as they prepared to surprise the newest recipient of the DAISY award. They entered the intensive care unit to cheers from the other nurses as the small group surrounded the surprised but happy DAISY recipient, who got a big hug from her fellow nurses, as they congratulated her. You are watching the local news network brought to you by CMIT Solutions and ServiceMaster Restore. I’m Wendy Graham Settle.
It feels really good to be recognized by those people that you work with. At the end of the day, they’re here, they’re extended family, and they become the people that you see every day, and they’re friends, are the family we choose.
DAISY, Diseases Attacking the Immune System, was created in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died from complications from an autoimmune disease. The award commemorates the work, compassion and care offered to Barnes by the nurses involved in his case, and it is now an international recognition program.
The award, really, is given to somebody who receives a nomination from a patient, a patient’s family, a colleague, other interested person, anybody who’s aware of the care and compassion they think ought to be recognized. So today, we have the honor to be right here in your midst to do this ceremony. Let me say, it’s not a recognition of a single person. It is, but it’s also a recognition of the culture and the unit that provides care just to these kinds of patients.
Anyone can nominate a nurse for the DAISY award. A display in the cafeteria shows photos of current DAISY nominees, where you can pick up a nomination form. You can also fill out an online form at sanjuanregional.com/daisy. At SJRMC, DAISY award recipients were nominated for anything from taking the extra time to calm an anxious patient to going between units to assist with patient care. The award surprise parties are an easy way to help celebrate the recipient’s work and nomination. They also serve as an opportunity for nurses to share the work they’re doing with their fellow nurses, and to encourage a strong sense of community.
It means a lot to me to be recognized for something that I’ve done, but it gives me the motivation to continue to grow, to serve my community, and to take pride in what I do every day.
DAISY recipients receive a certificate and a statue based on the Zimbabwe Shona statue, called The Healing Touch. Recipients also receive cinnamon rolls, as that was one of the only foods that Barnes was able to eat before he passed away. The award continues to celebrate Barnes’ life, as well as demonstrating the continuing efforts, care and compassion of nurses around the world. To learn more about DAISY award recipients at San Juan Regional Medical Center, or to nominate a nurse, visit sanjuanregional.com/daisy. To learn more about the DAISY foundation, visit daisyfoundation.com. Thank you for watching this edition of a local news network. I’m Wendy Graham Settle.
