DAISY Nurses Celebrated at Newport Hospital June 4, 2025 Several registered nurses at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital were honored recently with DAISY awards in recognition of their exceptional patient care. This year’s recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is James King, RN, who works in the hospital’s intensive care unit. The recipient of the hospital’s DAISY Nurse Leader Award is Sarah Cole, RN, who manages two hospital departments: the birthing unit and case management. The DAISY Team Award was presented to the hospital’s Ambulatory Infusion department. Award recipients received a DAISY pin, award certificate and a hand-carved stone sculpture entitled “A Healer’s Touch.” Along with public recognition, DAISY award winners receive financial discounts for nursing certification training, reduced tuition for continued education, conference scholarship opportunities and are eligible for the national DAISY Award. DAISY Nurse James King has worked with Samaritan since August 2016. The nomination detailed King’s excellent care given to an ICU patient as well as to the family members who gathered at the patient’s bedside. The nomination stated, in part: “There were many nurses, doctors and therapists who all took excellent care of him that night and all the next day, but James stood out. He was very courteous, professional, compassionate and had an appropriate sense of humor for us and his patient. While I am sure that his training and experience contribute to his work, the human caring is something that comes from the person’s heart and that is what we experienced with James. He treated him like he was treating his own father, and he also took excellent care of the kids and grandkids. He was honest with us and told us the truth in words we could understand. He answered our questions without hesitation.” DAISY Nurse Leader Sarah Cole, RN, who has worked at the Newport hospital since July 2001, was nominated for this award by Sam Jones, vice president of Patient Care Services. His nomination stated, in part: “Her unwavering commitment to both her staff and our patients sets her apart as a truly exceptional leader. She works tirelessly with her teams, ensuring that every patient receives the highest level of compassionate, evidence-based care. Her ability to lead with both heart and expertise has created an environment where collaboration, trust and clinical excellence thrive.” Jones noted her many accomplishments, including helping bring Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner services back to this community; building strong partnerships with system and community organizations; and successfully identifying placement solutions for patients requiring discharge from acute care while “navigating complex and sensitive situations with grace and persistence.” “Sarah is a true team builder, known for her deep knowledge, clinical expertise and genuine willingness to help in any capacity. Whether supporting her peers, leading new initiatives, mentoring staff or stepping in on the unit, Sarah leads with humility, strength and purpose,” Jones wrote. DAISY Team Award This award was given to the Infusion Services team to recognize their excellent nursing care and for extraordinary efforts to help the patients and families of Lincoln County. The detailed nomination, written by Camie Cutter, RN, provided many examples of teamwork and excellence that benefit patients, the hospital and the community. Cutter summed it up this way: Members of the hospital’s Infusion Services team with COO Jane Russell (back row on the right). “Cancer care is never just a day job. Several of my teammates used their breaks to give one final hug to a long-time cancer patient who was hospitalized last year. Working in infusion is not what we do, it’s who we are. “I am 100% proud to say that we put in the hard work to fix issues, communicate better, respect each other and come to work each day with PRIDE (passion, respect, integrity, dedication and excellence). Now we have a team that shares like a family and shares a commitment to our patients. This is one of the best things about our hospital: we are a caring, compassionate community that goes beyond the hospital walls, every day.” The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 from an autoimmune disease. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The foundation’s mission is to express gratitude and recognize nurses for the extraordinary compassion and skillful care they provide patients and families. To learn more, visit daisyfoundation.org. To nominate a Samaritan nurse, go to samhealth.org/DAISY.
