These DAISY Stories Will Remind You Why You’re a Nurse

The DAISY Award is reserved for nurses who deliver exceptional care on the job, often going above and beyond the expectations required of them. Providers can be nominated by their colleagues, patients, and their families. It’s a special honor designed to shed light on the amazing acts of kindness nurses perform every day. Dozens of nurses receive this prestigious award every year, so we decided to highlight some of our favorite stories from 2023 for Nurses’ Week.

Here are some recent stories to remind you why you became a nurse:

Christy Fliss – Night Shift, Sanford Health Sylvan Court

“It’s rewarding knowing that you’re that comfort to the residents when they need it the most,” Fliss said. “The other night I was in the room with a 103-year-old and something silly had happened and she laughed so hard. I have never heard her laugh like that. It was the greatest thing. It was just like hearing your kids. That genuine laugh. Just moments like that, the residents make it the best job.”

Grayson Moss – ICU Nurse, Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center

“It’s something I really always wanted to do,” Moss said about going into the medical field. “I’ve felt a calling toward helping others. That has always given me the most joy. A lot of times, especially where we work (in the ICU), you do not see the best of outcomes. That is why I always try to walk in with a smile on my face and affect someone in a positive way.”

Kayla Finzen – Licensed Practical Nurse, Good Samaritan Society

One of Finzen’s patients nominated Finzen for nursing her back to health after a leg wound. The nurse said the facility is more than just a home, it is “a village.” “We are the village, and it takes a village,” she added with a proud smile. “We’re a family. I like to tell everybody, yes you have your family but also this is our work family. Being able to give and then they (residents) give back to me, it makes me whole. It makes me happy,” she added.

Bailey Strausser – RN, Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at the University of Iowa

Strausser was nominated for helping deliver a patient’s last rites during their last few moments.

“It was honestly a team effort,” she added. “I had nurses on one end of the unit trying to brainstorm ways we could find a priest and then there were those who helped me take care of my patients as well as their own patients to make sure everyone was cared for appropriately.”

Andrea Jefferson – Cardiovascular ICU, University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics

Jefferson was nominated for her incredible sense of humor. “I have a whole list of cheesy jokes that tend to work pretty well,” Jefferson said. “During tough situations—where, unfortunately, hard decisions are made while the patient might be unconscious—I really try to help take care of their family as well. They’re just as much a part of this as the patient is.”

“If I can make it a little easier for the family, I will. I don’t usually talk about death so much, but I’ll talk about their situation and try to be empathetic,” Jefferson explained. “I think families appreciate the fact that you’re recognizing it’s very hard for them.”