Hospital Announces First Daisy Award Recipient
10/28/2024
Extraordinary Nurse Recognized at Merit Health Natchez
NATCHEZ, Miss., October 28, 2024 – Amy Dunaway of Merit Health Natchez was recently honored with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.
The nomination submitted read in part, “Before, during and after my surgeries at Merit Health Natchez, Amy went out of her way to comfort me, remind me that she would not leave my side during the procedures. I felt safe and in good hands with Amy. Amy is kind and soft spoken, but strong and confident in her skills and knowledge, as evidenced by her 40 years working in the surgery department.”
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
Said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation, "When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Merit Health Natchez are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
Said Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Vercher, “We are so happy to have the DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses at our hospital. The selection of Amy Dunaway as our first recipient of this prestigious honor is fitting, as Amy is loved by her patients and her co-workers for her calm demeanor and her gentle spirit. She is truly the epitome of a great nurse, and we are so grateful to have her leadership, clinical skills and compassionate spirit on our team.”
For a complete listing of healthcare organizations currently running the program, please go to http://DAISYfoundation.org.
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