Two Nursing Students, One Educator Honored with First DAISY Awards
The family of a man who died at 33 established the awards to honor caring, compassionate nurses
Two recent graduates in the Davis & Henley College of Nursing (DHCON) and one faculty member have become the first recipients of the DAISY Award in recognition of their extraordinary work in the 2020-2021 academic year.
The family of J. Patrick Barnes established the awards to honor his memory by honoring the nurses who gave him expert and compassionate care when he was hospitalized for and ultimately died from idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura at age 33. The award’s name is an acronym for diseases that attack the immune system.
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students celebrates those who demonstrate commitment to care and compassion. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Faculty honors educators who inspire their students to bring the art and science of nursing to every patient experience.
Kelly Aarons, a student pursuing her first professional degree, and Christiana Raucci, an online RN-BSN student, received the undergraduate student award. Aarons is described as kind-hearted, compassionate and a role model for the next generation of nurses. Raucci is known to be passionate about nursing and perseverant, as well as a champion of her fellow nurses during the pandemic. Both students graduated in May.
Kimberly Foito received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty, teaching in either an on campus or hybrid format. Students who nominated her identified her knowledge and expertise in pediatric nursing, her caring demeanor and teaching effectiveness as key to supporting their success.
All three received certificates of recognition and The Healer’s Touch sculpture, hand-carved in Zimbabwe from serpentine stone and symbolizing the unique relationship nurses have with their patients.
DAISY Awards for extraordinary nursing faculty teaching in an online program and an extraordinary graduate nursing student will be announced in the fall.
Pictured, from left, are Kelly Aarons, Christiana Raucci and Professor Kimberly Foito.