Extraordinary Nurses to Be Recognized in Albany July 7, 2020 Samaritan Albany General Hospital (SAGH) 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. 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 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. Nurses can be nominated by anyone including patients, family members, other nurses, physicians and other clinicians or staff. The award recipient will be chosen by a committee and then formally recognized at SAGH. Each honoree receives a certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. The award will be handed out quarterly each year with the first announcement in September. The deadline for the first round of nominations is Aug. 17. “We are very excited to be implementing the Daisy award,” said Melinda Papen, vice president of patient care services at SAGH. “The award serves to acknowledge exemplary nursing care and contributions to the profession. Acknowledging our nominees and award winners is a great way to shine a light on the quality care our nurses are providing every day.” The DAISY Award is now present at more than 4,000 health care facilities and schools of nursing in all 50 states and 25 other countries. To learn more about The DAISY Award, visit DAISYfoundation.org.
