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

Compassionate, caring, dedicated, committed, kind – the list goes on and on in an effort to describe nurses.  These hardworking men and women oftentimes do not receive the thanks they deserve for the vital role they play in a patient’s experience.  St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin, Livingston and San Augustine recently partnered with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses to honor an employee who consistently demonstrates excellence through clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care. 

Jane Newland, RN received the DAISY Award at Memorial Lufkin. 

“The DAISY Award is a great way for us to recognize the important work that our nurses do every day,” said Michael Plankers, Chief Nursing Officer for St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin. “I heard a lot about Jane Newland before I ever met her, so when I heard that she was the honoree for this award I was not surprised!  She truly exemplifies the meaning of the DAISY Award.”

Memorial Livingston honored Valerie Eugia in the Emergency Department and Ramona Ogden in ICU were recognized with their first DAISY Awards. 

“We are excited to have the opportunity to recognize our nurses with this prestigious award,” said Kristina Froese, Chief Nursing Officer for St. Luke’s Health Memorial Livingston.  “Our first two honorees are not just deserving of this award but set the bar for what is expected of this award.  I could not have chosen better examples of nurses that exemplify the meaning of the DAISY Award.”

Memorial San Augustine recognized Barbara Hall, RN, BSN, ER Clinical Coordinator with the DAISY Award.

We are excited to start the DAISY Award program in San Augustine,” said Darlene Williams, Administrator for St. Luke’s Health Memorial San Augustine.  “This award gives us an opportunity to really shine a light on the great work our nurses do.  Our first honoree is a great example of not only what this award stands for, but of what a great nurse is.”

Nominations are received from patients, visitors, other nurses, physicians and hospital staff.  The DAISY Award nominee must meet certain criteria 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 St. Luke’s Health Memorial facilities and online at https://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 https://DAISYfoundation.org;