An Emergency Department Nurse at Cary Medical Center was recently honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

Standing (L-R) Dr. Beth Ann Collamore, Emergency Department Physician, Jane Beaupre, RN, Emergency Department Primary Charge, Paula Parent, RN, CNO, HR Director, Heather Pelletier, RN, 2019 Daisy Award Recipient, Stephanie Plourde, (Nominated Heather) and Kris Doody, RN, CEO, Cary Medical Center & Pines Health Services.

          The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes.  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.  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.

          Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues, and they are chosen by a team that is designated by the Chief Nursing Officer to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are given throughout the year at presentations given in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors.  Each Honoree will receive a certificate commending her or him for being 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.”  The Honoree will also be given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.

          One day while Pat was in the hospital, he asked his family to bring him a Cinnabon® cinnamon roll plus enough for all the nurses in his unit.  With the help of Cinnabon’s franchise partners, The DAISY Foundation carries on this tradition by serving cinnamon rolls to all the nurses in the Award recipient’s unit in thanks for everything they do for their patients and families.

“When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Cary Medical Center are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award,” said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, President and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation.

          “We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in the DAISY Award program.  Nurses are heroes 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,” notes Chief Nursing Officer, Paula Parent.

For a complete listing of healthcare organizations currently running the program, please go to http://DAISYfoundation.org

This is one initiative of The DAISY Foundation in service to the nursing profession. Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing, and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.