Albany Presents DAISY Award to Another Deserving Nurse May 16, 2022 Samaritan Albany General Hospital has partnered with The DAISY Foundation in a mission to recognize extraordinary, compassionate nurses and the care they provide to patients and families every day. DAISY is an acronym for diseases attacking the immune system. Becky McCarthy, RN, works in the Medical/Surgical department and is the recipient of the fourth DAISY Award at SAGH. McCarthy was chosen from among nine submissions. She was nominated by a patient’s family member who appreciated her care, knowledge, comfort and compassion during a scary time. The nomination stated: “My sister was hospitalized and had an emergency surgery in late November 2021. Becky was my sister’s nurse several times during her week-long stay and the initial nurse when we were making life and death decisions. Becky always treated my sister with respect and listened to what she was saying. She explained things to my sister and me in a very understandable way and often happily repeated the information whenever needed. She never made us feel like a burden. Her calming demeanor and matter-of-fact presence put both my sister and me at ease when she was on duty. She was so kind and compassionate towards us that I can’t stop thinking about how we should all be more like her.” A ceremony was held on May 6 to honor McCarthy and the PRIDE – passion, respect, integrity, dedication and excellence – she shows in her work. She was presented with a certificate and a beautiful Healer’s Touch statue created by an artist in Zimbabwe, which symbolizes the relationship between nurses, patients and families. The other nurses nominated alongside McCarthy were Jennifer Cowgill, Julie Garman, Chester Gowen, Denise Kobi, Shannon McGarrin, Shelley Reece, Lee Strom and Elliot Tilden. The DAISY Foundation is a nonprofit 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 autoimmune 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. To nominate an extraordinary nurse, visit daisynomination.org/SAGH. To learn more about The DAISY Award, visit DAISYfoundation.org.
