Texas County Memorial Hospital has rolled out a new nurse recognition program to honor its employees.
The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award is an international recognition program that celebrates the skilled and compassionate care provided by nurses every day. It is part of the nonprofit DAISY Foundation of Glen Ellen, Calif. The foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who 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 he and his family received from nurses while Barnes was ill and hospitalized inspired the DAISY Award as a way of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient 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,” said Bonnie Barnes, president and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation.
The DAISY Award will replace the “nurse of the year” award previously given to a TCMH nurse. The hospital hopes to announce a recipient in the spring and fall.
“The kind of work the nurses at TCMH are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award,” said Doretta Todd Willis, TCMH chief nursing officer.
TCMH employs nurses who work in a variety of settings from hospital inpatient departments to clinics and home health and hospice services.
“All of our nursing staff has the opportunity to provide extraordinary care to our patients and their family members, and we hope that patients, family members and visitors to our hospital will take the time to share their story and nominate a nurse for a DAISY award,” Todd Willis said.
The public is invited to submit personal experiences with TCMH nursing staff for the DAISY Award. Nomination forms available in various departments around the hospital and clinics, including the front desk at the hospital. The form is also available online at www.tcmh.org/about-tcmh/daisyaward/.
The form asks for information about the specific act of extraordinary care that was experienced by the person making the nomination. The person completing the form is also asked to provide contact information should more information about the act be needed.
DAISY awards will be evaluated twice annually, and one DAISY award will be given at each evaluation period. All nurses that are nominated for a DAISY Award will receive recognition.
The nurse that receives the DAISY Award will be recognized at a public ceremony in his or her department. The award recipient will also receive a special DAISY Award pin, recognition certificate and hand-carved stone sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch.”
As part of the DAISY Award ceremony, the department will celebrate with cinnamon rolls. During Patrick Barnes’ hospitalization, he requested Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, a personal favorite food. He shared them with his nursing staff. Today the DAISY Foundation includes cinnamon rolls with DAISY Award ceremonies in tribute to Barnes love of the sweet treat.
“We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in the DAISY Award program,” Todd Willis said. “It’s important that TCMH nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that.”
For additional information about the DAISY Award, contact TCMH nursing administration at 417-967-3311.