DAISY Nurse Leader Award Recognizes Carrie Durkee’s Systemwide Impact June 24, 2026 Samaritan Albany General Hospital has partnered with The DAISY Foundation to recognize extraordinary nurses for the compassionate care they provide to patients and families every day. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. Carrie Durkee, RN, manager of the Women’s Center, was honored with the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. She was surprised by the recognition, having believed she was attending the event to support her department, which earned a DAISY Team Award. Durkee joined Samaritan in 2001 as a staff nurse in the Women’s Center and has spent more than two decades serving patients and supporting her co-workers while advancing into leadership roles. Leading With Purpose Durkee was nominated by a colleague who highlighted her commitment to patient safety, quality care and team support. The nominator stated: “Carrie is an outstanding nurse leader who consistently puts patient safety, patient satisfaction and quality care first. She works hard to keep up with the constantly changing medical environment and partners closely with providers to keep the workplace running smoothly. She takes every concern seriously, no matter how small, and always pushes for what’s right for patients and staff. “Systemwide, Carrie has demonstrated outstanding initiative and impact through her leadership of the Oregon Perinatal Collaborative newborn resuscitation quality improvement project. She has taken responsibility for reviewing and submitting data for all five hospital sites, coordinating leaders across the system and ensuring staff receive consistent education so that newborns and families receive high-quality care no matter where they deliver. “Her responsiveness and enthusiasm are unmatched. Whether she is asked to lead a project, provide subject matter expertise or support an urgent issue, she acts swiftly and thoughtfully with unwavering commitment to patient safety. Under her leadership, the Women’s Center has truly become a culture of excellence.” Durkee’s supervisor, Jennifer Davis-Emmert, described her as a dedicated and highly respected leader whose positive attitude and commitment to excellence have made a lasting impact on her team and the organization. “Carrie is a highly engaged and present leader who is always willing to step in and support her team whenever needed,” Davis-Emmert said. “She’s reliable, collaborative and deeply committed to delivering safe, high-quality care. She has built strong relationships with her clinician partners, who consistently speak highly of her leadership and partnership.” Davis-Emmert added that Durkee has a strong sense of compassion and dedication for others. “She consistently creates a positive and inclusive environment for her staff and works to ensure everyone has what they need to success,” Davis-Emmert said. “Her leadership extends beyond her department, helping create consistency in care and education across the health system. We are grateful for the positive influence she brings.” A ceremony was held to honor Durkee and the PRIDE — passion, respect, integrity, dedication and excellence — she demonstrates in her work. She was celebrated by her colleagues and family for the impact she has on her team and the patients they serve. She was presented with a certificate, DAISY Nurse Leader pin and a Healer’s Touch statue created by an artist in Zimbabwe. The status symbolizes the relationship between nurses, patients and families. DAISY Award recipients also receive access to professional development opportunities, including certification and education support. About the DAISY Award The DAISY Award was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes to honor the extraordinary work nurses do for patients and families every day. To learn more, visit DAISYfoundation.org. To nominate an extraordinary Samaritan nurse, go to samhealth.org/DAISY.
