Nominations for DAISY Award Due April 9

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary nurses, nurse educators, and nursing students is coming to Carolina! The DAISY Award is a way to honor the exceptional work that nurses and future nurses do every day! At Carolina, we are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding work our nurse educators do for our students, as well as highlighting the remarkable patient care our students provide.

The DAISY Award was founded to honor Patrick Barnes, who was “diagnosed with the autoimmune disease ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenia). His family was fortunate to spend the eight weeks of Patrick’s hospitalization with him. During those weeks, they experienced the best of nursing. While they expected great clinical care, they did not expect the incredible kindness and compassion shown to Patrick and them every day, even when Pat was completely sedated. It eased their minds, and the nurses’ sensitivity to the situation made a great difference in the hospital experience. The nurses helped the family through the darkest hours of their lives with soft voices of comfort and strong, loving hugs.” The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses began at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance at the University of Washington Medical Center, where Patrick had been a patient. It was the first program of its kind to give patients, families, and co-workers a way to express their gratitude to nurses for what they became nurses to do – provide compassionate care to patients and their families. Since then, The DAISY Award has become a strategic tool for nurse recruitment, retention, and resilience that has been adopted by thousands of healthcare organizations and schools of nursing in the U.S. and around the world.”

The inaugural DAISY Awards will be presented at the 2024 Mahoney Gala on Saturday, April 16, 2024.

Carolina DAISY Award Nominations open until Tuesday, April 9, 2024 @ 5pm.

Faculty Eligibility

• Must be a nurse.
• Full Time Nursing Faculty, Part Time Faculty/ Adjunct Faculty, Clinical Instructor, Nurse Specialist.

Student Eligibility

• Currently on the path toward ABSN, BSN, BSN-MSN, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, BSN-PhD, MSN-PhD who has the opportunity to exhibit compassionate care with their patients/families. 

*Initial roll-out planned for the UG division-2024-2025

*Planned expansion to include graduate divisions-2025-2026

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Nurse Faculty/Educator Criteria

DAISY Award Criteria for Carolina Nursing Faculty: The 6 C’s

Building on UNC SON’s core values of boldness, innovation, and dedication to well-being, these DAISY award criteria celebrate outstanding Carolina nursing faculty who excel in six key areas:

• Courage (Trailblazing Spirit):
  • Goes above and beyond to implement new and effective teaching methods.
  • Champions innovative approaches to nursing education, even in the face of uncertainty.
  • Advocates for positive change within the curriculum or school policies.
  • Creates a safe space for students to explore new ideas and challenge assumptions.
• Commitment (Well-being Champion):
  • Fosters a learning environment that promotes student well-being and mental health.
  • Remains enthusiastic about nursing and inspires optimism in students.
• Compassion (Empathetic Nurturer):
  • Creates a supportive and caring environment for all students.
  • Mentors students and fosters their professional growth.
• Community (Inclusive Collaborator):
  • Actively engages with students, colleagues, and external partners.
  • Creates a sense of community within the nursing program.
  • Promotes inclusivity in the classroom and beyond.
• Collaboration (Teamwork Advocate):
  • Encourages teamwork and collaborative learning among students.
• Curiosity (Lifelong Learner):
  • Encourages critical thinking and lifelong learning in students.
  • Embraces new technologies and educational approaches.

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Student Criteria

DAISY Award Criteria for Carolina Nursing Students: Shaping the Future of Care for All

This DAISY award program honors Carolina nursing students who embody the core values of exceptional care, leadership, and a commitment to advancing the future of nursing. Nominees should demonstrate excellence in any/some/all the following areas:

1. The Compassionate Leader:

• Delivers exceptional care: Prioritizes patient comfort and well-being, demonstrating genuine empathy towards patients and families.
• Advocates fiercely: Champions patient rights and ensures informed decision-making, advocating for optimal patient outcomes.
• Inspires collaboration: Builds strong, trusting relationships with patients, families, peers, and faculty, fostering a collaborative healthcare environment.

2. The Evidence-Based Innovator:

• Applies knowledge with purpose: Utilizes evidence-based practice to guide patient care decisions, demonstrating a strong foundation in nursing science.
• Seeks continuous learning: Actively seeks opportunities to expand knowledge and skills through research, new technologies, and best practices.
• Advances the future: Identifies areas for improvement in patient care and healthcare systems, proposing innovative solutions or seeking mentorship for future research endeavors.

3. The Global Citizen:

• Serves the local community: Demonstrates a strong commitment to serving the needs of their local community, providing compassionate care regardless of background or circumstance.
• Embraces global impact: Expresses a desire to share expertise and knowledge with the global nursing community, potentially through future educational or scientific contributions.
• Promotes the profession: Champions the positive impact of nursing, inspiring others to consider the profession and its potential for positive change.

By recognizing a UNC SON student who demonstrates these qualities, this DAISY award program celebrates future nursing leaders who will not only provide exceptional care but also drive innovation, advocate for positive change, and inspire the next generation of nurses around the world.