What is The DAISY Foundation?
DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem. The DAISY Foundation was formed by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), an auto-immune disease, in 1999. Touched by the care and compassion of the nurses who took care of him, his family developed recognition programs to honor and celebrate direct care nurses, nursing faculty, and nursing students.
What is The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators?
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators (Formerly The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty)
The Nurse Educator Award was created to honor every nurse educator for their inspirational influence on the Nurses of today and tomorrow- across the education continuum in academic and practice settings. Nursing schools are where faculty and instructors launch the careers of undergraduates and advance the skills of graduate students. In healthcare organizations, clinical educators, nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners, and preceptors ensure that students, new graduates, and nurses transitioning into specialty practice are competent and confident in their skills. These educators also keep clinicians updated on evidence-based practice. Nominations in the academic setting typically come from students, alumni, or other colleagues. In the clinical setting, nominations come from internal staff who have been impacted by their teaching and mentoring. Nurse Educator Honorees receive a certificate, a Nurse Educator pin, and a Healer’s Touch Sculpture. Learn more here.
What is The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students?
Modeled after The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, this recognition program is designed to highlight outstanding compassionate care provided to patients and families by nursing students when they are working in direct care.
Both programs are designed to be:
- A partnership to provide ongoing recognition to nursing faculty and nursing students.
- Flexible so that the award may be tailored to align with culture, mission, and values.
- A simple-to-implement initiative with The DAISY Foundation provides almost everything you need to run the program.
Who Runs the Program(s), the School of Nursing or the Hospital?
Typically, the school of nursing, however hospitals can sponsor the program(s). Hospitals can sponsor the programs at the schools who do their clinical rounding in their facility or honor students and faculty in the hospital where they are practicing/teaching.
What is meant by “on-going recognition?”
The work of nursing faculty and students goes on all year long in classrooms and in clinical settings. Recognition throughout the year, every year keeps the great work they are doing top of mind.
When should we present the Awards?
Please consider honoring your faculty and/or students at each graduation, pinning ceremony, convocation, faculty retreat/planning meeting, and other events. You might even surprise a faculty member or student during a class or in the hospital setting.
What is the cost?
The program's cost is based on the number of Awards you present each year. Nurse Educator Awards are $150 each, and DAISY Student Awards are $120 each. We ask that you determine the number of Awards per year you will present up-front. You will be invoiced on an annual basis.
How is a Nurse Educator or student chosen to receive the Award?
The Award is given based on criteria you establish in alignment with your school’s values. (We are happy to share criteria by schools of nursing participating in the program.) The Award should be merit-based and honor excellent teaching skills and leadership and a commitment to instilling strong patient care and compassion in their students (Educator). The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students should also be merit-based, honoring not only great clinical skill but also strong patient care and compassion.
Who can nominate?
Faculty and students may be nominated by anyone who comes in contact with them. In the academic setting: peers, students, administrative staff, alumni. In the clinical setting: nurses, patients, physicians, nurse managers, preceptors. Nominations include specific stories of the impact as exemplary educators and role models and capture the commitment, compassion, and connection to patients and families demonstrated by your nursing students. Nominations are blinded to remove any bias.
Who generally coordinates the program at the school?
This is your decision. Consider:
- A group of nursing students (Student Nurses Association)
- Joint committee of students and faculty
- Faculty and representatives of the Dean’s office
- Existing DAISY committee at DAISY partner hospital
What does an Educator or Student who is honored with the Award receive?
DAISY Faculty Award Honorees receive:
- The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Faculty Certificate, presented in a handsome portfolio and signed by The DAISY Foundation, the school’s Dean and if a hospital is sponsoring also signed by the CNO. It reads: To honor your exceptional impact on your students and your inspirational influence on their future.
- A DAISY Faculty Award pin
- A unique, hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture from Zimbabwe, entitled "A Healer's Touch."
- A Spotlight page on our website, featuring a photo and telling the story of why this faculty member was honored.
DAISY Student Honorees receive:
- A certificate, signed by The DAISY Foundation, the school's Dean and if a hospital is sponsoring, also signed by the CNO.
- A DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Student pin
- A unique, hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture from Zimbabwe, entitled "A Healer's Touch." This is a smaller version of the sculpture DAISY Faculty Honorees receive.
- A Spotlight page on our website, featuring a photo and telling the story of why this student was honored
How do I get started?
The first step is to request information here. We will then be in touch to answer questions and schedule an introductory webinar. Once the decision is made to move forward, you can complete our commitment form and click submit. Upon receipt, we will mail our welcome kit, which is a detailed guide to planning and implementing the program. The DAISY Foundation staff will work closely with your DAISY team to bring the program to life, including an invitation to join our Welcome Webinar at a date and time that works for your committee. We will be eager to help you get ready to make your first DAISY Award presentation.
What if I have more questions?
If you have additional questions about The DAISY Academic Awards, please contact your Regional Program Director.
Thank you again for your interest! We look forward to talking with you.