This nurse leader embodies what it means to give your life to this profession, not just in title, but in action, mentorship, and purpose. His journey began as a critical care nurse. From there, he built something remarkable, degree by degree, role by role, until he became a Chief Nursing Officer, leading more than 1,500 team members with the same hands-on commitment he brought to his very first shift. What he built at UCLA Santa Monica is a testament to the power of visionary nursing leadership. He led this hospital to its first Magnet designation and, most recently, to its third, this time with distinction. This is an honor held by fewer than 100 hospitals worldwide. Under his guidance, this hospital also earned a CMS Five-Star Quality Rating, DNV Stroke Care Certification, and the diamond-level Pediatric Nursing Excellence award. The hematology oncology unit achieved FACT certification. The majority of SMUCLA units carry Beacon designation. The NICU has obtained Six Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Awards for patient experience.  These awards are proof of the culture he has built here.
He’s also contributed to the nursing profession outside of these walls as the President of the Association for Leadership Science in Nursing. He is also a Fellow of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the American Academy of Nursing, which are among the highest honors the profession can bestow. He serves on the Editorial Board of the Nurse Leader journal, shaping the ideas that guide nursing leadership nationally. These are only a handful of his accomplishments. Yet, what matters most is how he leads people. He has mentored nurses at every level, from nurse residents finding their footing to directors who have gone on to become CNOs themselves. Those who know him describe him as someone who congratulates every nurse who earns a certification, who always makes time to listen, no matter how full his calendar is, and whose influence is visible in the careers of leaders across this health system. He does not just advance nursing. He elevates the people within it. Today, we are proud to present the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award to someone whose legacy is already being carried forward through the outcomes of his patients, the careers of his mentees, and a profession made stronger by his extraordinary life of service.

**This is K. David Bailey's 2nd DAISY Award!