DAISY Award: Honoring Extraordinary Nurses

You may have heard or seen the name, but do you know the meaning behind the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses? 

According to the DAISY Foundation, the award honors the super-human work nurses do for patients and families every day—something that rings especially true as we’ve been fighting COVID-19 for over a year.  

Patients, families, fellow nurses and employees can nominate a nurse to say thank you for a job excellently done.  

The award is currently offered by CRMH, CRCH, CNRV and CGCH, as well as associated off-site departments, like ION, Home Health and the Roanoke Campus. Each month, a committee reviews nominations and selects two DAISY Award winners. Before the pandemic, family and coworkers celebrated winners with a surprise recognition party. For now, some celebrations can include family in a virtual event.    

The award often comes as an exciting surprise for its winners. “It was a very pleasant surprise, and quite the honor to have gotten it,” says DAISY Award winner Joshua Brima, R.N., 9S ICU at CRMH. “The fact that it was my unit director who nominated me makes it even better!”  

DAISY Award winners receive:  

• An “Extraordinary Nurse” certificate, presented in an elegant portfolio. 

• A DAISY Award pin.   

• A hand-carved, “Healer’s Touch” serpentine stone sculpture from Zimbabwe.    

• A spotlight page on the DAISY Foundation website, featuring the nurse’s photo and story (scroll down the webpage to see all of our winners).  

The national DAISY Foundation was formed in Seattle in 1999, by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The nursing care Patrick received while hospitalized profoundly touched his family, so they wanted to create an award program that recognized nurses across the nation. The name DAISY is an acronym for “Diseases Attacking the Immune System.”   

"As a nurse, it can be hard to feel honored when you are just doing your job," explains DAISY Award winner Meagan Tolley, R.N., CRCH ambulatory surgery nurse. "By receiving the DAISY Award, not only did I feel honored, I felt humbled."

At CNRV, Kayla Blankenship, L.P.N., medical care suite, was recognized for her outstanding work through a DAISY Award. 

"I was completely shocked when I received my award! The director of nursing was there to congratulate me, too, which I thought was really special," she said. "I have seen some incredible nurses receive a DAISY, and it made me feel so honored to be chosen."

To learn more about the DAISY Award, visit the DAISY Foundation’s website.   

Know of a nurse who deserves to be recognized? Fill out the nomination page on CarilionClinic.org.   

For more information about the DAISY program, contact Valerie Newberry, Nursing Services, at vdnewberry@carilionclinic.org or 540-266-6647 (76647).