Jennifer Graham, RN was honored with a DAISY award during the annual Nurse Week celebrations at Los Alamitos Medical Center.
Hospital staff gathered to hear the nomination read and the recipient’s name revealed. This prestigious nursing recognition was given to Garaham after the hospital received a heartwarming letter of thanks from a patient – and on behalf of the patient’s wife who had also been a patient.
“They just felt like family,” said Graham.
Upon receiving the award, Jennifer received a bouquet of flowers, a Daisy pin, and a hand-carved stone sculpture representing the nurturing relationship between patients and their caregiver.
The DAISY Award is part of the DAISY Foundation and was created in the memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33. Patrick’s family came up with the award as a way of honoring Patrick’s memory after he experienced an eight-week hospital stay. They wanted to say “thank you” to nurses everywhere with a special recognition program.
Established after Pat’s death in 1999, there are three elements to the DAISY Award: a partnership with healthcare organizations to provide on-going recognition of the clinical skill and compassion nurses provide to patients, flexibility so that facilities can tailor the award to their individual culture and values, and lastly, a program that is easily replicated and turn-key with the DAISY Foundation providing most everything needed to implement the award.
After several hugs and many photos, the nurses and staff in Jennifer’s unit were treated to Cinnabon® cinnamon rolls. The reason? Patrick had no appetite when he was hospitalized- until he ate his father’s Cinnabon roll. He then requested one for the next day – and enough for all the nurses in the unit.
The DAISY Award is now awarded all over the U.S. and beyond. Los Alamitos Medical Center is proud to have Jennifer providing care to our community, our friends, and our family members.
This article appeared in the May 31, 2017 print edition of the News Enterprise.
