The DAISY Award

Haywood Regional Medical Center (HRMC) has opened nominations to honor nurses with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses ®. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. 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. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) 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 the local community is invited to participate. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at HRMC to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the Honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors.

Said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, President and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation, "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, extraordinary, compassionate work they do. The kind of work the nurses at HRMC are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

Said HRMC Chief Nursing Officer Susan Mahoney, “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.”

More information about the DAISY Foundation is available at DAISYfoundation.org.

Nominate a Nurse

Submit your nomination online below or Print Nomination Form.

The DAISY Award is an international recognition program started in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Pat’s family experienced first-hand the difference his nurses made in his care through clinical excellence and outstanding compassionate care. The family created The DAISY Award to express gratitude to nurses and to enable other patients, families, and staff to thank and honor their special nurses.

Please visit DAISYFoundation.org to learn more about Pat's story and how The DAISY Award recognizes Extraordinary Nurses.

Complete this form to share your story of how a nurse made a difference in your care or that of someone you know:

Name of the nurse you are nominating:

Unit where this nurse works:

Please describe a specific situation or story that clearly demonstrates how this nurse made a meaningful difference in your care.

Please tell us about yourself:

Your name:

You Unit (if applicable)

Phone:

Email:

I am a: