Ms. Longwell was nominated by several patients who wrote
about her compassion and empathy, her welcoming nature and obvious expertise.
Ms. Longwell has worked at Noyes for 5 years, the last two in the hospital’s
emergency department.
Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and
colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at Noyes which reviews
nominations and determines the recipient of The DAISY Award.
“We congratulate Jess on this deserved recognition,” says
Noyes Health’s Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Services
Tammy West, “Nurses are heroes, now more than ever. The demands on them have
grown during the pandemic era. They not only provide excellent nursing care, but,
particularly in the emergency department, they also provide comfort and
connection at a time when our patients are alone. It’s important that our
nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a
way for us to do that.”
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.
Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations
attended by the Honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors. 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.
Says Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, President and Co-Founder of The
DAISY Foundation, "When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced
first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and
night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human, extraordinary,
compassionate work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Noyes Health are
called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
This is one initiative of The DAISY Foundation to express
gratitude to the nursing
profession. Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes
Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY
Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing,
and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students. More information is
available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.
