Extraordinary Nurses recognized at Sierra Surgery Hospital

Nurses at Sierra Surgery Hospital are being honored with The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform everyday.

The first award recipients are registered nurses Kyle Wegner and Chris Lytle. They are being recognized for the following:

• Personalizing the healthcare experience for each patient,

• Being a patient advocate,

• Going beyond expectations by improving the work experience,

• Always treating patients, families and co-workers with kindness, concern and dignity, and

• Doing exemplary community service.

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, Calif., 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, 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.

Twice a year, two nurses are selected by Sierra Surgery Hospital's Nursing Leadership Council to receive The DAISY Award. At a presentation given in front of the nurses' colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors, the honorees receive a certificate commending them for being an extraordinary nurse. The certificate reads: "In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people."

The honorees also are given a sculpture called A Healer's Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe, Africa.

One day while Pat was in the hospital, he asked his family to bring him a Cinnabon cinnamon roll plus enough for all the nurses in his unit. With the help of Cinnabon's parent company, FOCUS Brands, The DAISY Foundation carries on this tradition by serving Cinnabons to all the nurses within the facility in thanks for everything they do for their patients and families.

"When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night," said DAISY Foundation President and Co-Founder Bonnie Barnes "Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Sierra Surgery Hospital are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award."

"We are proud to be among the hospitals participating in the DAISY Award Program," said Chief Nursing Officer Jean Lyon, Ph.D., RN. "Nurses are heroes everyday. It's important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that."