DAISY Award
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is proud to partner with the not-for-profit DAISY Foundation to recognize and celebrate nurses every month. The DAISY Award is an international recognition program started in memory of J. Patrick Barnes to express gratitude to nurses. The Barnes family experienced excellent treatment and outstanding compassionate care, and the family created this award after seeing what a difference nurses made in Pat’s care. The DAISY Award lets patients, families, and CHLA team members thank and honor special nurses and the incredibly meaningful difference they make in the lives of so many people. There are both individual and team DAISY Awards. Anyone can nominate a nurse or nurse-led team for a DAISY Award!
Please visit DAISYFoundation.org to learn more about Pat’s story and how the DAISY Award recognizes extraordinary nurses.
Each DAISY Award honoree is recognized at a public ceremony in their unit and receives: an award certificate, a DAISY award pin, and a hand-carved stone sculpture, “A Healer’s Touch.” Additionally, everyone in the unit celebrates with Cinnabon cinnamon rolls - a favorite of Pat’s during his illness. The Barnes family asks that whenever and wherever nurses smell that wonderful cinnamon aroma, they stop for a moment and thing about how special they are.
Nominate a CHLA nurse, or team led by a nurse!
2023 Honorees
Cassidy Herro, RN, Receives DAISY Award
Congratulations to Cassidy Herro, BSN, RN, CPN, CCRN, for receiving the latest DAISY Award! Herro, who works in the CTICU, was nominated by a patient’s parent who was thankful for how Herro advocated on their behalf, maintained excellent communication, and provided the “best care possible.”
“She was able to quickly use her expertise to address a more [severe] complication,” shared the nominator. “Her attention to details may have just saved my son’s life! Thank you, Cassidy!”
Majella Doherty, RN, Receives DAISY Award
Congratulations to Majella Doherty, RN, CPN, for receiving the latest DAISY Award! Doherty, who works on 6 East, was nominated by a patient’s parent. They praised “Nurse Majella” for the impactful role she had in their daughter’s care.
“She quickly established rapport with our daughter and interacted with her frequently, causing her to forget about all of the wires and pokes. Nurse Majella was knowledgeable and really advocated for our daughter to help her to receive the best care. She listened to me and my concerns – educating me along the way. Her singing and playful games meant the world to my daughter,” shared the nominator. “Her service to this hospital is truly exemplary! I see that she is a team player in her interactions with the other staff members. Nurse Majella – truly an angel for our family.”
Monitoring and Screening Unit Receives DAISY Team Award
Congratulations to the latest recipient of the DAISY Team Award, the Monitoring and Screening Unit (MSU)!
As CHLA prepared to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the MSU emerged to screen for COVID and care for COVID-positive patients. In the early days of the pandemic, when there was much uncertainty, a group of nurses answered the call to care for these patients. The award nomination submitted for the MSU shared that these nurses were met with enormous challenges and overcame them with grace and compassion.
“As the Lead Nurses of the MSU, we cannot express enough our gratitude and pride in these nurses,” shared the nominators. “We wanted to take a minute to acknowledge the valued work of these nurses. Nursing at its core is answering the call to care for those in need. In this unprecedented time in modern history, we are proud of the dedication, compassion and hard work this group of nurses have shown.”
Congratulations, MSU team!
Nina Nacpil, RN, Receives DAISY Award
Congratulations to Nina Nacpil, MSN, RN, CCRN, for receiving the latest DAISY Award! Nacpil, who works on the CTICU unit, was nominated by a patient’s parent. They praised Nacpil for going above and beyond, sharing how comforted they felt that their child was in her care.
“She was so attentive, gentle, knowledgeable and supportive. She also made sure I was okay and [that I] took a nap. When I had to leave to go see about my other two children and do laundry to come back to the bedside, I called to get updates on [my child], and she was always informative and did it with pleasure,” shared the nominator. “I was comfortable leaving the bedside for the night because of the security she gave me that my [child] was in amazing hands. That says a lot because I don’t leave my children with anyone other than myself, my husband or grandma. We love you, Nina! You’re awesome.”
Erika Reyes, RN, Receives DAISY Award
Congratulations to Erika Reyes, BSN, RN, for receiving the latest DAISY Award! Reyes, who works on the CV Acute and CTICU units, was nominated by a patient’s parent. They shared praise for every nurse they interacted with but highlighted how Reyes “went an extra mile.”
“My little son was crying and crying, and we couldn’t sooth him, when suddenly Erika came in the room, not being his [nurse], and started helping our current nurse sooth my baby,” shared the nominator. “She brought him a music box, new pacifier, [and] rubbed his head until [he] finally calmed down. She made the situation extremely soothing when [she] finally became my son’s nurse [when] we moved to CV Acute. Erika was extremely helpful and sweet. Thank you, Erika and team. Our stay here was amazing!”
Liana Lorusso, RN, Receives DAISY Award
Congratulations to Liana Lorusso, BSN, RN, CPN, for receiving the latest DAISY Award! Lorusso, who works on CV Acute, was nominated by a patient’s family member who was impressed with the treatment they received during a hospitalization.
“Liana Lorusso is one of the most humble, compassionate, and professional nurses, who has great listening skills,” shared the nominator. “Her explanations of care were very precise and clear. Overall, she demonstrated compassion and [a] high level of patient care.”
Roland Merida, RN, Receives March DAISY Award
Congratulations to Roland Merida, BSN, RN, for receiving the latest DAISY Award! Merida, who works in the Pulmonology clinic, was nominated by a fellow team member who highlighted his “clinical skill and compassionate care,” sharing an example of a time he went above and beyond for a patient family whose child had a new diagnosis requiring additional instruction and appointments to learn to use airway clearance devices.
“Roland is consistently surveilling the clinic and finding out ways to make it run more efficiently and provide better care to patients,” shared the nominator. “He has a positive attitude and has always been a bright spot in my day. I am extremely grateful to the efforts Roland puts into clinic and I am thankful he is part of the CHLA Pulmonary team. He is bright and talented and very deserving of the best.”
Kristyn Richards, RN, Receives February DAISY Award
Congratulations to Kristyn Richards, RN, MSN, CNL, for receiving the latest DAISY Award! Richards, who works in the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit (NICCU), was nominated by a fellow team member who highlighted her “kindness and compassion towards patients and families” and “strong sense of loyalty and commitment” for her colleagues. The nominator shared an example of a particularly challenging situation during which Richards provided not only vital support with aspects of patient care but important emotional support for the care team.
“I am grateful for Kristyn’s humility, her extraordinary care, and the compassion she showed towards both my patient and me,” shared the nominator. “Kristyn’s dedication to stay with me and my patient during the multiple codes, helping us hold, and providing the last bath showed her dedication and commitment. Kristyn inspires all of us to go that extra mile for all our patients and families in any situation.”
Mary Kate Henke, RN, Receives January's DAISY Award
Congratulations to Mary Kate Henke, BSN, RN, for receiving the latest DAISY Award! Henke, who works on Duque 5, received two different nominations, from both a patient family and a fellow team member. They highlighted her proactive, attentive style of patient care, as well as her positive attitude.
“Mary was such a sweet nurse we had the honor to meet. Her sweet smile and energetic appearance every time she enters the room make the patient feel [they are] in safe hands,” shared one nominator. “Although she works night shifts, she is full of energy. She is compassionate and caring. Mary, you are an angel; just you’re missing the wings!”
