Nurses Honored with DAISY Award at CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial

CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial is proud to partner with The DAISY Foundation to honor nurses with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.  This award recognizes nurses who consistently demonstrate excellence through clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care.  

The latest nurses to earn the Daisy Award for excellence are Dineli Marrero, RN, and Lisa Price, RN, with Memorial Lufkin and Jessica Mark, RN, with Memorial Specialty Hospital.

“Many times nurses don’t get the recognition they deserve for all of their hard work,” said Mary Franklin, CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Market Vice President of Patient Care Services.  “The DAISY Award is an opportunity for all of us to remind them how much we appreciate them.  This award gives patients, physicians and coworkers a way to let our nurses know how important their work is in helping patients heal.”

Patients, visitors, other nurses, physicians and hospital staff can submit nomination forms each quarter. One patient who nominated Marrero described how she made them feel special and that they mattered.  The nomination went on to say “her never-ending smile and compassion helped so much.  All the nurses were nice and good, but Nurse Dineli never lost her smile.”  Another nomination described how Marrero was always there for them.  “She treated me as if I were a member of her own family.  She would check on me frequently to make sure I was okay.”

DAISY Award winner Lisa Price was recognized for the individualized care she gave her patients.  “From the first time she came in, she treated me like I was her only patient.  She has a positive vibe that is infectious and was always a pleasure when she entered my room.  Lisa treated me like a friend and not just a patient.”

“There are always so many great nominations it is difficult for the committee to narrow it down to just a few,” said Jana Rains, RN, DAISY Award Committee Chair.  “As much as we value all of our nurses and their hard work, the committee felt that Dineli and Lisa really embodied the criteria for this award.”

The nomination for Jessica Mark was from a patient that had been hospitalized for 16 days.  “Jessica was the most up-beat, friendly, happy nurse.  She made me smile often.  She also provided excellent care.  She truly cares about her patients.”

The DAISY Award nominee must meet certain criterion that includes exemplifying the following characteristics:

• Reverence: establishes a special connection with patients and families through trust and emotional support
• Integrity: maintains the trust and confidence of all with whom he/she engages
• Compassion: is thoughtful, compassionate and caring in all situations
• Excellence: strives for the highest quality and continuous improvement
• Goes above and beyond to care for the needs of patients and families and takes time to educate and include the patient and family during the care process

Nomination forms are available throughout the CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin facility and online at www.CHIStLukesHealthMemorial.org.

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes.  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.  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.

Recognition is one initiative of The DAISY Foundation in service to the nursing profession.  Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing, and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.