Gadsden Regional Recognizes DAISY Award Winners

2/6/2020

GADSDEN, AL, February 6, 2020—Gadsden Regional recognized three wonderful nurses as the most recent recipients of the DAISY Awards for 2019. Registered Nurses Jennifer Balentine, Savannah Vaughn and Erin Barrett were recognized for the extraordinary care and compassion they provide to their patients. Each nurse was nominated by a patient or their family member for the DAISY Award.

Gadsden Regional also presented the inaugural DAISY Team Award to the Women’s and Children’s nursing staff. The Women’s and Children’s team consistently works together to ensure that all patients are comfortable and well cared for during their stay.

Jennifer Balentine is a nurse in the Cath Lab. Her nominator wrote "Jennifer embodies a balance of wonderful communication skills and warmth... It is clear to see that nursing is Jennifer's deep passion!"

Savannah Vaughn works in the Medical ICU. Her nominator praised her careful attention and the compassion she displayed; she said the nomination "will not even scratch the surface of how grateful we are for Savannah."

A patient’s daughter wrote the nomination for Erin Barrett, a nurse in orthopedics. “My mom had a panic attack after getting back from surgery and Erin was on top of it… We just loved Erin!”

To nominate a nurse for the DAISY award for Gadsden Regional, visit gadsdenregional.com/daisy-award-nominations.

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.

Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues, and are chosen by a committee of nurses at Gadsden Regional Medical Center to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are given throughout the year at presentations given in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors.

Each Honoree receives a certificate commending her or him 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 Honoree is also given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch”, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.

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