Northwestern Medicine Recognizes Extraordinary Nurses

DEKALB, IL – Nurses at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital are being honored with The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's program to recognize the efforts of all nurses and the duties they perform every day. The first award recipient will be honored at the Nurses Week Event on May 12, 2017.

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, Calif., and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at the age of 33 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Barnes and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

"When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Northwestern Medicine are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award,” said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, president and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation.

Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues, and they are chosen by a committee of nurses from Northwestern Medicine to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are given throughout the year at presentations given in front of nurse colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors. Each honoree will receive a certificate commending her or him for being an "Extraordinary Nurse." The honoree will also be given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.

“We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in the DAISY Award program. Nurses are heroes every day. It is important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that,” said Vice President of Operations and Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee and Valley West Hospitals Chief Nursing Executive Pamela Duffy.

For more information and a complete listing of healthcare organizations currently running the program, visit the DAISY Award program website. Learn more about Northwestern Medicine.