Life-saving Response Earns Night Shift DAISY Award May 28, 2025 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. The night-shift team honored with a DAISY Award includes Blaze Amodei, Holly Bryant, Victoria Crockett, Tiffany Fitzmorris, Ulysses Gutierrez, Amber Philips, Channing Silcox and Crystal Varland. Nominated by a colleague, this outstanding group was celebrated for their quick thinking and seamless collaboration. The nominator stated: “We had a nearly dead septic shock patient arrive by a private vehicle. The staff jumped to action and together we snatched the patient from the jaws of death. From placing IVs, to a temp-sensing foley catheter, to nasogastric tube, to Bair Hugger and blood gas, assisting with central line and point-of-care ultrasound, the team shined as true professionals.” A ceremony was held to honor the night-shift team and the PRIDE — passion, respect, integrity, dedication and excellence — shown in their work. Everyone awarded was presented with a certificate and DAISY pin. The team also received a plaque that will be hung up in their department. Along with the 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. Emergency Department Director, Lisa Johnson, describes her team as a powerhouse of resilience, compassion and collaboration. “They thrive in high-pressure situations, consistently delivering exceptional care with unwavering dedication,” Johnson said. “Each member brings unique strengths, but together they form a cohesive unit that supports one another through the toughest nights. Their ability to stay calm under pressure, make quick decisions and maintain a sense of humor and humanity makes them not just a team—but a family.” The DAISY Award was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes to “honor the super-human work nurses do for patients and families every day wherever they practice, in whatever role they serve and throughout their careers, from student through a lifetime of achievement.” To learn more, visit DAISYfoundation.org. To nominate an extraordinary Samaritan nurse, go to samhealth.org/DAISY.
