August 2026 Honoree
Dana Rosario, MSN, RN
Recently, one of Dana Rosaeio's patients was very upset after learning she would need to remain in the hospital another day and would miss her weekly Bingo game at her nursing home. Knowing how important this was to her patient, Dana found a way to bring Bingo to 3 East.
Dana printed Bingo cards that she found online, gathered colored construction paper from the administration office, and created large "BINGO" lettering decorations to hang in the patient's room. She then organized a Bingo game right on the unit in the patient’s room and invited available staff members to participate.
As the game was getting started, C invited a neighboring patient who had been feeling lonely and having a difficult time to join the fun too, and when Dana asked her patient if she minded sharing the game, she immediately replied, "The more the merrier!" What started as an effort to brighten one patient's day quickly turned into something that benefited many others. Patients and staff alike were laughing, smiling, and having fun together. For a little while, everyone forgot about illness, hospitalization, and work.
To make the experience even more special, Dana made sure each patient received a personalized prize at the end of the game: pizza for one patient and a soda for the other.
What stands out most is that this was not something Dana was asked to do. She saw a patient who was disappointed and found a creative way to turn the day around. In doing so, she not only lifted the spirits of two patients, but she also brought joy to her coworkers. This is simply who Dana is.
Whether she is doing something as simple as passing out flavored waters to brighten a coworker’s day or going above and beyond to create a special experience for a patient, she leads with kindness, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to providing the best possible care. She is one of the biggest patient advocates I know and has a truly extraordinary heart. She consistently goes above and beyond to make her patients feel cared for, valued, and seen as individuals. This Bingo game may seem like a simple gesture, but it had a tremendous impact on the people involved and is a perfect example of the difference Dana makes through her nursing care.
Dana truly embodies the compassion and excellence that the DAISY Award represents.
Dana printed Bingo cards that she found online, gathered colored construction paper from the administration office, and created large "BINGO" lettering decorations to hang in the patient's room. She then organized a Bingo game right on the unit in the patient’s room and invited available staff members to participate.
As the game was getting started, C invited a neighboring patient who had been feeling lonely and having a difficult time to join the fun too, and when Dana asked her patient if she minded sharing the game, she immediately replied, "The more the merrier!" What started as an effort to brighten one patient's day quickly turned into something that benefited many others. Patients and staff alike were laughing, smiling, and having fun together. For a little while, everyone forgot about illness, hospitalization, and work.
To make the experience even more special, Dana made sure each patient received a personalized prize at the end of the game: pizza for one patient and a soda for the other.
What stands out most is that this was not something Dana was asked to do. She saw a patient who was disappointed and found a creative way to turn the day around. In doing so, she not only lifted the spirits of two patients, but she also brought joy to her coworkers. This is simply who Dana is.
Whether she is doing something as simple as passing out flavored waters to brighten a coworker’s day or going above and beyond to create a special experience for a patient, she leads with kindness, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to providing the best possible care. She is one of the biggest patient advocates I know and has a truly extraordinary heart. She consistently goes above and beyond to make her patients feel cared for, valued, and seen as individuals. This Bingo game may seem like a simple gesture, but it had a tremendous impact on the people involved and is a perfect example of the difference Dana makes through her nursing care.
Dana truly embodies the compassion and excellence that the DAISY Award represents.
Thank you, Dana, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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