Acknowledging exceptional nurses is crucial for delivering top-notch healthcare. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is a symbol of this recognition, honoring nurses who make a difference in the lives of their patients every day.
In this blog post, you will learn more about what the DAISY Award stands for, who is eligible to receive it, and how to nominate a nurse who deserves recognition.
What Is the DAISY Award?
The DAISY Award is a nationwide recognition program created by the Barnes family.
J. Patrick Barnes was 33 when he passed away from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). The family of J. Patrick Barnes then created the recognition program in 1999 recognizing nurses who facilitated the compassionate care Patrick received .
The DAISY award, which stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, honors nurses who demonstrate clinical excellence and compassion in their practice. Healthcare organizations give the award to nurses around the world, showing appreciation for their hard work and dedication to patient care.
According to the Daisy Foundation, the Barnes family wanted to ensure three elements of the recognition program included:
- A partnership with healthcare organizations to provide on-going recognition of the clinical skill and especially the compassion nurses provide to patients and families all year long.
- Guided implementation and on-going support where DAISY provides most of the materials for the program.
- Flexibility so that The DAISY Award may be tailored to each hospital’s unique culture and values.
Now, more than 5,400 healthcare facilities and nursing schools have honored over 189,000 nurses across the continuum of care with the DAISY award making it one of the most recognizable and sought-after nursing recognition programs in the world.
Who Is Eligible for the DAISY Award?
The Daisy Foundation set the goal of the program to honor nurses who provide extraordinary compassionate care, so you can nominate any registered nurse who works in a Daisy Foundation participating organization.
There are no other requirements, so the award is open to all experience levels, from those just starting their careers to seasoned veterans. It also doesn’t matter if the nurse works in a hospital or another setting; any registered nurse can be nominated for this prestigious honor.
Patients, hospitals, and even family members can nominate a nurse they feel deserves recognition and has gone above and beyond to provide exceptional care.
How To Nominate a Nurse for the DAISY Award
Nominating a nurse for this award is a simple process. To do so, click the provided link on the DAISY Foundation website, find the nurse’s organization, and fill out the nomination form.
Alternatively, you may find paper nomination forms on the organization’s premises. After filling out the form, it is sent to the on-site DAISY coordinator, who will evaluate it for approval.
How the DAISY Award Impacts the Care of Patients, Nurses, and Healthcare Professionals
The DAISY Award is not just a simple form of recognition. It goes beyond that and is an essential investment in nursing. This award has a history of over 21 years, during which it has managed to engage nurses in their work actively. In turn, it has provided valuable insights into successful nurse recognition programs.
Additionally, it impacts the organization in three areas.
1. Meaningful Recognition Contributes to a Healthy Work Environment
When nurses know their hard work is recognized, it encourages them to focus on delivering exceptional patient care. This recognition also positively affects the overall morale of the organization, as it reinforces a culture of appreciation and respect for caregivers.
By sharing remarkable acts of kindness, nurses are inspired and reminded of their passion for nursing. The organization’s mission and vision are also exemplified through DAISY stories that showcase skillful and compassionate care. The award also includes recognizing the team’s efforts and celebrating their accomplishments.
2. Nurse Engagement or Nurse Experience
Since the DAISY award observes extraordinary compassionate care, it serves as a reminder of why nurses entered their profession in the first place. It also allows nurses to learn from their peers and share experiences, giving them extra energy and motivation to continue providing extraordinary care.
The compassion nurses provide to their patients significantly impacts the healing process. This program reminds nurses of their importance and that their efforts make a difference.
3. Patient and Family Experience
The DAISY Award extends gratitude to extraordinary nurses for their efforts in providing exceptional care. This allows patients and family members to acknowledge inspiring stories of professional clinical practice and heartfelt compassion.
DAISY recognizes individuals who make a difference in their organization. Through these actions of recognition, nurses are motivated to stay committed and provide even better care for their patients.
DAISY also has a team award because better outcomes may start with one individual, but it may take more than just that individual to for a successful implementation.
Consider Giving Extraordinary Nurses a DAISY Award for Their Outstanding Service
The super human work nurses always provide deserves recognition. Nominating a nurse is an excellent way to show appreciation for their hard work and dedication.
Consider nominating an exceptional nurse today to thank them for their hard work and dedication and inspire others to provide the same outstanding care. This award recognizes the super human work nurses do when they provide the extraordinary compassion that transforms lives.
Sources:
https://www.daisyfoundation.org/daisy-award
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/for-patients-and-visitors/daisy-award-nomination
https://health.ucdavis.edu/nurse/daisy/
https://www.sarahbush.org/daisyaward/
https://chcm.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Inspiring-Nurses_DAISY.pdf