July 2026 Honoree
Douglas Johnson, ADN, RN
During our daughter's hospitalization, Doug stood out in a way that our family will never forget.
Every day he came into her room and spoke directly to her, asking how she was doing and making sure she felt seen and heard. Our daughter is naturally shy, and Doug had a remarkable ability to balance encouraging her and making her smile without making her uncomfortable or drawing unwanted attention to her. He seemed to understand exactly what she needed.
What impressed me most was how closely Doug paid attention to details. When she reported numbness in her legs, Doug took it upon himself to begin monitoring the progression of the numbness every few hours throughout his shift. Although he was not her physician, he recognized the importance of carefully observing changes and communicating them to the team.
He also noticed how cold her feet and legs felt and began checking her foot pulses to ensure her circulation remained strong. His attentiveness gave us confidence that someone was always watching over her well-being.
Hospital stays can be long, difficult, and exhausting for children and their families. Doug continually looked for ways to keep her engaged, suggesting activities and helping make the days more manageable. He also consistently lifted the spirits of everyone in the room.
One of the sweetest examples of Doug's impact on our daughter came through a pair of stuffed animals she received from the hospital gift shop. She named them after Doug and Michael, her amazing PT.
When Doug found out that one of the stuffed animals had been named after him, he went out of his way to make the moment special. He gave the bunny its own miniature blood pressure cuff and name tag, turning it into a little nurse just like him.
It was a simple gesture, but to a child facing a difficult hospitalization, it meant the world. It made her smile, helped make the hospital feel less scary, and showed just how much Doug cared about his patients as people, not just medical cases.
Doug made a lasting difference in our daughter's hospital experience and in our family's ability to get through a very difficult time. We are deeply grateful for his exceptional nursing care and believe he exemplifies everything the DAISY Award represents.
Every day he came into her room and spoke directly to her, asking how she was doing and making sure she felt seen and heard. Our daughter is naturally shy, and Doug had a remarkable ability to balance encouraging her and making her smile without making her uncomfortable or drawing unwanted attention to her. He seemed to understand exactly what she needed.
What impressed me most was how closely Doug paid attention to details. When she reported numbness in her legs, Doug took it upon himself to begin monitoring the progression of the numbness every few hours throughout his shift. Although he was not her physician, he recognized the importance of carefully observing changes and communicating them to the team.
He also noticed how cold her feet and legs felt and began checking her foot pulses to ensure her circulation remained strong. His attentiveness gave us confidence that someone was always watching over her well-being.
Hospital stays can be long, difficult, and exhausting for children and their families. Doug continually looked for ways to keep her engaged, suggesting activities and helping make the days more manageable. He also consistently lifted the spirits of everyone in the room.
One of the sweetest examples of Doug's impact on our daughter came through a pair of stuffed animals she received from the hospital gift shop. She named them after Doug and Michael, her amazing PT.
When Doug found out that one of the stuffed animals had been named after him, he went out of his way to make the moment special. He gave the bunny its own miniature blood pressure cuff and name tag, turning it into a little nurse just like him.
It was a simple gesture, but to a child facing a difficult hospitalization, it meant the world. It made her smile, helped make the hospital feel less scary, and showed just how much Doug cared about his patients as people, not just medical cases.
Doug made a lasting difference in our daughter's hospital experience and in our family's ability to get through a very difficult time. We are deeply grateful for his exceptional nursing care and believe he exemplifies everything the DAISY Award represents.
Thank you, Douglas, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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