Jo Ann Bailey has proven herself to be one of the most competent, compassionate, and capable Licensed Practical Nurses at Tripler Army Medical Center and perhaps on the island of Oahu. As a pediatric nurse, Jo Ann provides support, education, and care to the children and parents of active duty service members.

In the Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Patient-Centered Medical Home, Jo Ann serves primarily as the nurse assigned to the treatment room. She administers care, performs treatments, and cares for some of the clinic's more complex and challenging patients and families. She serves as the Infection Control and Prevention champion for the clinic, with duties that include reporting hand hygiene compliance. As a member of the Department Morale Committee, Jo Ann participates as a committee member. Still, she helps fund the committee by collecting recyclables and returning the funds to the committee.

Without even trying to inflate the scope of Jo Ann's influence, she truly does serve the community in an entirely altruistic manner. Each year at Christmas and Easter, Jo Ann works with the staff at the Fisher House to ensure the families with children staying there can escape the stresses associated with health care concerns to enjoy and celebrate the holiday. Jo Ann coordinated the donation of holiday gifts and gift baskets for each of the children staying at the Fisher House. She collected donations from the clinic to assist in maintaining the pantry. Jo Ann served as a Captain of the aid station for both the Honolulu Marathon and the Hapalua Half Marathon in just the past year alone. As the leader of those stations, Jo Ann retrieved supplies, set up, trained other volunteers, and coordinated the triage, care, and support to these community events.

Parents and grandparents have recognized Jo Ann for her ability to calm a fearful child or comfort a parent. During the COVID19 Pediatric Vaccination Campaign in December 2021, a parent of four children wrote a handwritten note to Jo Ann in appreciation of the patience and care she invested in reducing the fear and anxiety of their children. Then again, in January, while preparing a patient for a procedure, Jo Ann noted her patient's elevated vital signs and anxiety. Jo Ann took a time-out from her other patients to gain the patient's confidence, thereby reducing her anxiety and returning her vital signs to normal parameters. The child later took the time to draw out her experience on two pages and have her father bring in the cartoon of "Thank you, Mrs. Jo Ann; you're the best nurse ever!" The patient went on to say, "I'm really happy you calmed me down. I really think you helped me be more confident. Thank you a lot!"

Jo Ann Bailey continues serving and caring for the pediatric patients and families at Tripler Army Medical Center. Her uncompromising standards of excellence in patient care and dedication to the Pediatric Ohana have earned the respect of her co-workers, supervisors, providers, and patients. She truly embodies the finest attributes of nursing associated with the DAISY Award, including selfless service, compassion, empathy, and leadership.