HSHS St. Francis Hospital honors nurse with DAISY Award

HSHS St. Francis Hospital recently awarded Sara Burris, RN, women and infant services, with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses^®. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate care nurses provide patients and families every day.  

Burris was nominated by a patient for her extraordinary care. They expressed that she is always caring and listens to concerns. The nomination read in part: “She was an amazing nurse during the labor/delivery of both of my babies. Sara went above and beyond during my labor, and then again when I was readmitted for a medical issue. I appreciate Sara’s kindness and understanding through a very stressful situation. Sara was so helpful, willing to stay with me to make sure all my needs were met. She was an awesome nurse for me during my hospitalization when I had my baby. She is funny, positive, full of kindness, and took such excellent care of us. We couldn’t ask for a better nurse to be there for us.”

“It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that,” said St. Francis Hospital’s Director of Nursing Heather Senaldi, BSN, RN. “As an organization, we are extremely proud of our nurses. Nurses are heroes every day. Those we honored truly embody our four Core Values of Respect, Care, Competence and Joy in how they care for patients and their families.”

Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him as 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." Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin, and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. The award recipient is chosen by a local committee at St. Francis Hospital. 

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. 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. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) 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.

Nominations for future DAISY Awards at St. Francis Hospital continue to be accepted. Patients, visitors and colleagues are encouraged to share and submit their story of witnessing excellent and compassionate care from staff. The nomination forms can be found on the home page of the hospital’s web site at stfrancis-litchfield.org and selecting “Recognize a Colleague” under the Patients & Guests menu, or on paper forms available throughout the hospital.

For more information about The DAISY Foundation, visit DAISYfoundation.org.

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Photo Caption: Sara Burris, RN, women and infant services (second from left), was recently named HSHS St. Francis Hospital’s DAISY Award winner. Burris was congratulated by (left to right) Jim Timpe, president and CEO; Shannon Maddaleno, RN, women and infant services manager; Heather Senaldi, RN, director of nursing; and Bethany Price, RN, nursing educator.