Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital announced its latest DAISY Award winners. Regina Barnes, RN, was honored in December as the DAISY Award winner and Lauren Alvey was the DAISY Award recipient for January. The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skills and compassionate care given by nurses every day.

Regina Barnes, RN, who works in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), was nominated for the award by a Phoebe Family member, Chaplain Joey Holland. In his nomination letter, Holland wrote that Regina not only provided quality, compassionate care to the patient but took the patient’s family in just like they were her own.

“She bounced back and forth between jumping in to help the other nurses and doctors work on the patient several times and then back to sitting with the family. Regina didn’t just sit with the family, she hurt with them,” wrote Rev. Holland.

Regina made sure that every person who wanted to visit with the patient was able to – personally escorting many of them. “Because of Regina’s selfless service, this family felt safe and taken care of. They trusted her. I didn’t see her take one break during this whole time,” continued Holland.

As the chaplain, Holland said the first thing he tries to make sure is that the patient and family trust and feel safe with him. Holland said Regina was their chaplain, nurse, mother, advocate and friend.

Phoebe’s January DAISY award winner was Lauren Alvey, RN, who works in Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Lauren was also nominated by a fellow Phoebe Family member, Toby Bradshaw, an anesthesiology PA.

On two different occasions, Lauren noticed subtle changes in patients’ conditions that could have resulted in serious consequences if she wouldn’t have spoke up. “I’ve noticed Ms. Alvey’s dedication, compassion, and astute nursing skills in action,” wrote Bradshaw. “I am proud to nominate such a keen and highly skillful new nurse as Lauren Alvey, RN. She’s a great pleasure to work with and our Phoebe Family is honored by this gem of an employee.”

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.

At a presentation given in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors, the honoree receives a certificate commending her or him for being an "Extraordinary Nurse." The honoree is also given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.

If you would like to nominate a nurse for the DAISY Award, go to phoebehealth.com/daisy-award.