Ashley Converse Is SNLH 2026 DAISY Nurse May 22, 2026 A bit of sunshine, a warm shower and a dash of humanity. That was the winning recipe for this year’s Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, which was presented to Ashley Converse, RN. A labor and delivery nurse, she was nominated for stepping outside her comfort zone to assist a boarding patient. The nomination was read aloud at the DAISY Award ceremony, which was hosted by Jennifer Kimberlain, vice president of Patient Care Services, and Jen Pierce, manager of the hospital’s Family Birthing Center. The nomination stated: “I witnessed Ashley do something so simple but so incredibly impactful. The OB unit didn’t have any patients so the house supervisor asked if she could help with an Emergency Department patient. Ashley jumped in with a can-do attitude. There was a sweet lady who was being boarded in the emergency room for multiple days. She had not had a proper shower since she arrived. So, with some coordination with the medical-surgical unit, she brought the patient to a room, with assistance provided by her teammate, Maxine. She showered her and got her all hooked up in her comfy clothes. “And instead of just finishing and taking back to her room, she took her on a tour around the hospital. They stopped and sat in the sun, talking with her, telling her little facts about things they were seeing, introducing her and saying ‘hi’ to other staff. I don’t know if everyone knows, but OB RNs don’t have to shower our patients, so it was out of her comfort zone, but you’d NEVER know. “These are the ‘normal things’ we take for granted – showering, seeing the sky, getting out of the same room – when you don’t feel well. You miss what makes you feel human. I know Ashley did these things not for recognition but because she could, and it was the right thing to do. Thank you, Ashley, for going the extra mile and helping this patient feel clean and more connected, more human.” About the Recipient Converse started her work with Samaritan as a travel nurse in August 2021 and transitioned into a staff role in June 2023. She came to work on her day off to attend the ceremony – and was surprised to see many of her family members from come to the hospital from McMinnville for the announcement. “I truly felt honored to receive this award and was shocked to see my family come to the coast to celebrate with me,” Converse said after the event. “Such a cool day!” About the DAISY Nominees Converse was one of 20 SNLH registered nurses who received DAISY nominations. When announcing their names, Pierce said: “Each of these nurses has made a meaningful difference, often in moments when patients and families needed it most. Your empathy, skill and commitment do not go unnoticed. You are the steady hands, the calming voices and the problem-solvers who make even the toughest days better, for patients and your teammates. You remind us that nursing is not just a profession, it’s a calling – one that requires equal parts heart, expertise and just a little bit of magic.” The nominees were Christina Abare, Sierra Anderson, Shannon Blackburn, Heidi Cutler, Karen Detner, Jenny Elmore, Ellen Fahlstrom Wellborn, Diane Glover, Christina Gonzalez Tamayo, Nicole Hite, Katy Huckaby, Leilani Ibayan, Stephanie Marshall McKuhn, Goldie Michelle, Chuck Murphy, Bridget Paxton, Jeremy Raber, Michael Reynolds-Benadillo and Maureen Wisehart. About The DAISY Foundation 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.
