Madison Memorial Hospital honors exceptional caregivers with DAISY Award
Published at | Updated at
REXBURG — Madison Memorial Hospital is implementing a new program sponsored by the national DAISY Foundation to honor nurses who go the extra mile in their care.
Madison Memorial joins other hospitals who have done the same thing. The goal is to show nurses their work doesn’t go unrecognized. Madison Memorial Hospitals Chief Nursing Officer Kevin McEwan led the DAISY effort during National Nurses Week from May 6 to May 12.
The first DAISY Award was given Karen Sare Thursday. Sare has worked as a nurse for 47 years and has spent most of her time at Madison. Administrators say she is one of the most patient and helpful house supervisors. McEwan said Sare goes above and beyond to make special connections and form relationships with patients.
“I’ve seen her comfort patients and explain things to nurses. She is always willing to help wherever she can,” fellow nurse Carlie Dyorich says of Sare.
The DAISY Foundation was formed 20 years ago in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 from Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. ITP is a bleeding disorder where the immune system destroys platelets.
During his hospitalization, Barnes had a very positive experience with caregivers and his family was moved to start the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Patrick’s wife Tena Barnes came up with the acronym DAISY which stands for Disease Attacking the Immune System. Over the last few years, the program has gone international.
As part of the award, nurses will receive daisies, a statuette called the ‘The Healers Touch,’ a pin, a certificate and cinnamon rolls.
“Patrick Barnes, when he was in the hospital, often times gave cinnamon rolls away to his nurses, and so that has become a symbol of the DAISY Award,” McEwan says. “We found a fantastic baker here in town, Leslie (Alexander), who runs the Blind Baker.”
RELATED: Blind baker delivers fresh, hot cinnamon rolls to customers in eastern Idaho
The DAISY Foundation has hand-picked the artisans who make the statuettes in a village in Zimbabwe, McEwan says. The DAISY Foundation supports this village through the work of the few artisans.
“If you know a nurse, thank them. If you know somebody, who wants to go into nursing, support them. It’s worth the effort,” McEwan says.
McEwan says nominations for the award are ongoing. Every nurse nominated will receive a pin. The DAISY Award will be presented four to five times a year. Nominations can be made on the hospital’s website.