DAISY Award

Daisy Award at St. Joseph Hospital

In 1999, Patrick Barnes was diagnosed with ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenia) at age 33, and during his eight-week hospitalization, his family experienced extraordinary nursing care marked by kindness and compassion.

After Patrick’s passing, his family created the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses to honor the exceptional care they received. The DAISY Foundation celebrates and reinforces the importance of compassion in healthcare.

Nominate a Nurse

Danielle Leduc, RN, Inpatient Medical/Surgical Unit

In October 2024, Danielle was honored with the DAISY Award, nominated by a family member of a patient. The nomination highlighted Danielle’s exceptional attention to detail and her ability to make the patient feel at home following emergency surgery. The nominator expressed their gratitude, stating, “Before leaving, she came in one last time to ensure we were okay, introduced us to our new nurse, and thanked us. She… thanked… us!”

Tiana Pleasant, RN, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

Tiana was recognized in July 2024 from a colleague for her exceptional ability to listen, understand, and provide comfort. From holding a trembling hand to offering support during vulnerable moments, Tiana’s compassionate presence made her truly deserving of this honor.

Bailey Baird, RN, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit

In June 2024, Bailey received the DAISY Award for her outstanding post-surgery care of a patient. The patient remarked, “She did everything she could to help me. I’ve never had someone work so hard on my behalf. I truly felt that she cared and would do her best to solve the problem. While all hospital staff seemed dedicated, Bailey stood out above the rest. My thanks for making a difficult situation better.”

Stephen Callery, RN, Intensive Care Unit

Stephen was recognized in May of 2024 for winning the DAISY Award! Nominated by a colleague, they wrote, “We had a patient who was admitted with respiratory failure complicated by many issues compromising their chances of survival significantly. This patient did not have any family or friends who could speak on their behalf about medical decisions that would be in their best interest. Steve went above and beyond to advocate for this patient, initiating and following up with the complicated and lengthy process of getting this patient legal guardianship. Steve was such an advocate for this patient.”

Lisa Fitch, RN, Maternal Child Health

Having worked at St. Joseph Hospital for 22 years, Lisa was quite surprised in being presented with a well-deserved DAISY Award in April 2024! Nominated by a patient who writes, “Lisa was my labor and delivery nurse for my second daughter. She made my experience so much less stressful and I was much more at ease this time around. She checked in with me often to make sure my needs were met and if I or my husband needed anything. She was so mothering and did all she could to help with my pain.”

Julie Hoegger, NP, Maternal Child Health

Julie was presented with the DAISY Award in March 2023 by a colleague who worked with her during a challenging delivery. They wrote, “Recently we had an unexpected preterm delivery at 27 weeks. Being a community hospital without a NICU, she immediately started preparing the staff, room, and parents as soon as it was apparent that the mother could not be transferred to another facility. She huddled three separate times pre delivery and established roles, responsibilities, and contingency plans. The family was appreciative of the care they received. Julie is always ensuring that the other nursing staff is comfortable and knowledgeable.”