Recognizing Extraordinary Nursing Care in Addiction Treatment
Nurses are the backbone of patient care in healthcare settings nationwide, often going above and beyond their clinical duties to deliver compassion, comfort, and exceptional service during their patients’ most vulnerable moments. The DAISY Award is a testament to these extraordinary efforts, celebrating the clinical expertise and heartfelt kindness that nurses demonstrate every day, especially in challenging fields such as substance use disorder and mental health treatment.
The Origins of the DAISY Award
DAISY, an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, was established by the DAISY Foundation in 2000. The award was created by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died from complications of an autoimmune disease at just 33 years old. During Patrick’s hospitalization, he and his family were deeply moved by the exceptional clinical skills, compassionate care, and unwavering support provided by his nurses.
Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, CEO and co-founder of the DAISY Foundation, wanted to highlight these healthcare heroes who perform exceptional work daily without fanfare. This recognition is particularly meaningful in substance use disorder and mental health treatment settings like Recovery Centers of America, where nurses blend clinical expertise with warmth and understanding to guide patients through their challenging recovery journeys.
The DAISY Award has since become a prestigious honor in healthcare facilities across the United States, including Recovery Centers of America.
The DAISY Award at Recovery Centers of America (RCA).
RCA proudly participates as a DAISY Award partner, recognizing outstanding nurses throughout its network of substance use disorder treatment facilities. This partnership reflects RCA’s commitment to appreciating nursing excellence and promoting a culture that values compassionate, patient-centered care in substance use disorder treatment.
Each DAISY Award honoree receives:
- Recognition at a public ceremony at their facility.
- A certificate acknowledging their exceptional care.
- A DAISY Award pin.
- A hand-carved Healer’s Touch stone sculpture.
- Cinnamon rolls to share with their unit, a favorite of Patrick Barnes during his illness.
This award honors individual nurses and inspires their coworkers, highlighting the impact that compassionate nursing has on patients and families struggling with substance use disorder and mental health issues.
Nominating an Extraordinary Nurse
The DAISY Award nomination process is open to patients, families, and colleagues who witness first-class nursing care at RCA. Nominations can be submitted via a simple form available on the RCA website. If you experienced extraordinary nursing care with RCA, we invite you to share your experience and explain how a particular nurse made a difference.
Click here to nominate an RCA nurse for the Daisy Award.
For more information about the DAISY Award program and the DAISY Foundation, explore their website.
Recent DAISY Award Recipients at Recovery Centers of America
The stories behind each DAISY Award reveal the dramatic impact of nursing excellence in the treatment of substance use disorders and mental health conditions. Here are some recent honorees from Recovery Centers of America.
Natalie Felder, LPN
At RCA’s Lighthouse facility, Licensed Practical Nurse Natalie Felder received DAISY recognition following a compelling testimonial from a former patient who completed the recovery program. What distinguished Natalie’s nursing approach was her ability to integrate clinical protocols with individualized emotional support during key phases of the recovery process.
The nomination underscored Natalie’s distinctive talent for identifying specific psychological barriers affecting each patient’s recovery trajectory and adapting her communication and intervention strategies accordingly. Her colleagues at RCA Lighthouse highlight Natalie’s consistent demonstration of therapeutic presence by maintaining professional boundaries while establishing authentic connections that support the recovery process.
Jess Oakes, LPN
Our June 2024 DAISY Award Honoree, Jess Oakes, has served at RCA Devon since February 2021. She has developed a reputation for excellence in managing the inter-relationship between physiological withdrawal symptoms and psychological fragility during substance use disorder treatment.
A moving patient testimonial described how Jess’s interventions extended beyond standard clinical care to address the existential questions that emerge during recovery. The former patient noted Jess’s ability to provide validation during moments of extreme vulnerability in the detox process by offering reassurance without minimizing the genuine challenges being confronted.
What makes Jess’s approach stand out is her integration of emotional support with practical recovery tools, helping patients develop sustainable coping mechanisms that can be harnessed beyond their time in treatment. This strategy exemplifies the type of multidimensional care emblematic of exceptional substance use disorder treatment nursing.
The Lasting Impact of the DAISY Award in Addiction Treatment
The DAISY Award recognizes and rewards individual nurses, shedding light on the art and heart of nursing as a profession, particularly in the demanding fields of substance use disorder and mental health treatment. By celebrating examples of remarkable care, the program emphasizes the values integral to the nursing profession: compassion, clinical excellence, patient dignity, and human connection.
For individuals in recovery and their families, the opportunity to nominate a nurse offers a meaningful way to express gratitude for the care that made a difference during tough times. For healthcare organizations like Recovery Centers of America, the DAISY Award encourages a culture that values and celebrates nursing excellence, potentially improving nurse retention and satisfaction.
Most importantly, by sharing the stories beneath each award, the program reminds us all of the far-reaching impact of nursing on the physical health and emotional well-being of patients and families engaged in the recovery process.
In substance use disorder and mental health settings, nurses face many obstacles as they support people through detoxification, emotional breakthroughs, and the establishment of new, healthier life patterns. The DAISY Award honors the special combination of clinical expertise and empathy required to support patients effectively on their recovery journeys.
To nominate an extraordinary nurse who has made a difference in your care or the care of a loved one, visit the Recovery Centers of America website and complete the DAISY Award nomination form. Your recognition could help celebrate the nurse who transformed your healthcare experience.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction or mental health issues associated with substance use disorder, the staff at RCA is here to help. Contact us for help today.