The DAISY Awards: Honoring Extraordinary Nurses and Nurse Educators

For over two decades, the DAISY Foundation has honored the extraordinary work of nurses with the prestigious “DAISY Award.” This internationally recognized award serves as a symbol of respect and appreciation for nurses who demonstrate exceptional clinical skills and knowledge, as well as empathy, compassion, and kindness toward their patients and/or students.

What is a DAISY Award?

The DAISY Award is a significant honor for nurses, recognizing their dedication to their patients/students and how they go beyond to provide high-quality care/education. The award is not only a testament to a nurse's skills and expertise but also their compassion, empathy, and kindness toward their patients/students. The “DAISY” namesake comes from the award’s sponsored foundation, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who passed away due to complications of an autoimmune disease, but whose legacy lives on.

Patrick's family experienced firsthand the outstanding care provided by nurses, and they wanted to recognize and thank the nurses who had cared for Patrick during his hospitalization. The DAISY Award continues to show appreciation for nurses and the impact they have on the lives of their patients, students and families.

What Skills Do DAISY Award Recipients Possess?

DAISY Award winners represent the best of the best, working every day with the following skills:

• Exceptional clinical skills and knowledge in their practice
• Empathy and compassion toward their patients
• Cultural competence and experience with patients from all walks of life
• Outstanding communication skills, possessing the ability to work collaboratively with their colleagues, and communicate with their patients and families
• Building strong relationships with their patients and families
• Clear commitment to making a difference in the lives of those they care for, providing comfort and support during tough times.

How Is a Nurse Chosen for a DAISY Award?

The Herzing School of Nursing DAISY Award is open to all active Herzing University prelicensure and post-licensure students as well as nursing faculty. The award recognizes nurses who demonstrate exceptional clinical skills and knowledge, as well as empathy, compassion, and kindness toward their patients and students.

Nurses who meet these criteria are nominated by their peers, patients, students, faculty or families. The nominations are reviewed by a committee of healthcare professionals who select the most deserving candidates for the award. Award recipients are announced at a ceremony recognizing them for their exceptional work.

How Can You Discover DAISY Award Contenders?

You’ll be able to easily identify DAISY-worthy nurses in your everyday life. They are the ones who:

• Practice every day with empathy and compassion: A nurse should strive to treat each patient with empathy and compassion, understanding the unique needs of each individual and responding with kindness and respect.
• Develop strong communication skills: Communication is a vital part of nursing, and a nurse who can communicate effectively with patients and colleagues will be more successful in providing exceptional care.
• Continuously strive to improve clinical knowledge: A nurse should be committed to lifelong learning, staying up-to-date with the latest research and trends in their field. Earning additional certifications or advanced degrees can open up a variety of valuable advancement opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with patients, students and families: A nurse who takes the time to build a rapport with students, patients, and their families can provide more personalized care and support.
• Go beyond in their duties: A nurse should be willing to go the extra mile for their students and patients.

The DAISY Awards are a testament to the impact that nurses can have on the lives of their students, patients and families and serves as a reminder of the importance of the work that nurses do every day. In the same way a flower leaves a positive impression on a growing garden, DAISY Award recipients leave a lasting impression on their communities, growing and thriving within it. 

Know someone who fits the description of a DAISY Award winner? Anyone can nominate a DAISY-worthy nurse, student nurse or nurse educator using the nomination page. Simply fill out the online application or ask your local healthcare facility for an on-site form. Once completed, your nomination will be emailed to their on-site DAISY coordinator, who will blind the nomination and bring it to their committee for assessment.

Herzing University is proud to educate and train nurses who are dedicated to providing exceptional care to their patients. Our nursing programs are designed to prepare students for successful careers in nursing, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to make a difference in the lives of their patients and honor the memory and legacy of those whose stories are cemented in the history of the DAISY Award.