The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses

The DAISY Foundation was formed in January, 2000, by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. When their son Patrick was ill, the Barnes family was in awe by the skill, care, and compassion of his nurses. They created The DIASY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2001 to say thank you to nurses around the country, because they believed nurses are truly "unsung heroes." They felt nurses are deserving of our society's profound respect and recognition for the education, training, brainpower and skill they put into their work, not to mention the caring with which they deliver their care.

What is the DAISY Award®?

The DAISY Award® is a nation-wide program that recognizes nursing excellence. In memory of Patrick, the Barnes family recalled the skillful and compassionate care Patrick received from his nurses during his eight-week hospitalization. They wanted to say “thank you” to nurses everywhere by establishing a recognition program - The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses (The DAISY Award®) - to honor the super-human work nurses do every day at the bedside.

Our quarterly DAISY Award® recipient will be publicly recognized within Parrish Healthcare and will receive a framed certificate, DAISY Award signature lapel pin, bouquet of daisies, a hand-carved stone sculpture entitled A Healer’s Touch. Additionally, the unit or department of the recipient will receive cinnamon rolls, a favorite of Patrick’s during his illness, with the sentiment that the heavenly aroma will remind them how special they are and how important their work is.

Who is Eligible for the DAISY Award®?

DAISY Award® recipients are registered nurses who exemplify the nursing values: extraordinary compassion, courage and integrity, in every situation! These individuals consistently demonstrate excellence in the delivery of patient care and promotion of their professional nursing practice.

Celebrating Our DAISY Award® Honorees and Nominations

Congratulations to the below honorees and nominations for Parrish Healthcare's DAISY Award.

May 2025:
- Honoree: Melissa Hamlin, RN
- Nominations: Allan Beach, Allie Maya, Amanda Baker, Amanda Puffer, Amanda Vento, Amie Walker-Black, Andrew Martin, Anna Bahr, Automn Galloway, Axelrave Dominguez, Bailey Hamilton, Bethis Washington, Bridget Sauve, Cassandra Butler, Cindy Driver, Cory Jordan, Christina Garcia, Cynthia Sluka, Dana Layne Dembowski, Denise Covert, Ellen Wright, Embily Smith, Emily Hurley, Erin Eckart, Faith French, Giovanni Luna, Haley Goehring, Heather Focht, Heather Sexton, Jackie Oliveri, Jen Hellweg, Jessie Vulpius, Jodi Lowe, Jodi May, Kaitlyn Neal, Kalob Vaughn, Kathy Julien, Kayla Schneerer, Krystal Valdes, Laurah Shaffer, Liberty Casteel, Lisa West, Lorraine Cunniff, Mandy Cockshutt, Maria Eliza Talplacido, Melissa Hamlin, Michele Rodriquez, Mona Smalls, Rebecca Blickley, Samantha Johnson, Sammantha Zarzycka, Sarah Streat, Shane Joseph, Shawanda Lacey, Yadira Wilbanks and Zarina Quintinita.
September 2025:
- Honoree: Staci Fleming, RN
- Nominations: Leigh Ann York, Cindy Sluka, Dawn Russell, Pam Mercer, Stephanie Dotson, Mandy Cockshutt, Cassandra Butler, Christine Rich, Bridget Sauve, Jessica McPeak, Alecia Miller, Aqueelah Ali, DaeSean Lee, Larissa Lowden, Heather Dawson, Ruby Ryckman, Sarah Zaffery, Giovanni Luna, Rowena Haley, Katlynn Rush, Jodi May, Jacob Cohen, Yadira Wilbanks, Cristina Garcia, Amanda Vento, Andrew Martin, Axelrave Dominguez, Amanda Puffer, Heather Sexton, Patricia Padot, Amanda Biegmann, Jacque Duniho, Liberty Casteel, Shannon Burdine, Breanna Karwat and ‘emJza Jefferson.