An Extraordinary Nurse is Recognized At Myrtue Medical Center at Myrtue Medical Center

Nurses at Myrtue Medical Center are being honored with The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at the age of 33, in late 1999, from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known autoimmune disease. The care he 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. Shortly after Patrick’s death, the DAISY Foundation was formed with DAISY standing for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem.

Myrtue Medical Center implemented The DAISY Award nomination in 2019 and an honoree is recognized twice per year in a special ceremony. In November 2024, during National Medical-Surgical-Inpatient Nurses Week, the DAISY award recipient at Myrtue Medical Center was Jackie Riessen, RN, who is a nurse in Myrtue’s Inpatient Department. Jackie’s winning nomination emphasized her kindness, compassion, and thoughtfulness towards her patient, highlighting the unwavering support and understanding she provided throughout the patient’s experience at Myrtue. The nomination also detailed how effectively Jackie communicated updates, thoroughly explaining all tests in a manner that helped both the patient and family grasp what was happening. Since the implementation of the DAISY award at Myrtue, Jackie has received two nominations.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is recognized by healthcare facilities globally as a way to honor nurses. Patients, visitors, families, and colleagues can nominate nurses for this award, and a multidisciplinary team selects the recipients. “This award truly highlights the incredible work our nurses do every single day for patients, families, and staff. We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in the DAISY Award program,” stated Karen Buman, Chief Nursing Officer. Congratulations to Jackie on receiving this honor and being a healthcare hero right here at Myrtue Medical Center!