Leah Jones Honored as DAISY Award Recipient

Leah Jones RN, acute nursing in Onaga, has been awarded the spring 2024 DAISY Award by Community HealthCare System (CHCS). The DAISY award is presented for exemplary nursing.

Jones was nominated by Jessica Ireland who shared her story of Leah’s respect, kindness and unconditional care shown to her husband during the family’s difficult time.

As Ireland stated, “She did not make my husband feel worthless like so many do. She understood our frustrations, concerns, answered all of our questions and helped make us laugh when the tears were too much to bear. She also gave me care, comfort, kindness and hope in my darkest hour.”

“Leah is that nurse who extends compassion no matter the circumstances,” said Mindy Olberding, Chief Nursing Officer at CHCS. “She realizes nursing is often so much more than just providing medical care but also offering encouragement, empathy or simply a soft touch or spoken word. We are very fortunate to have her on our staff and I am honored to present this award to her,” Olberding stated.

Ireland said that she “aspires to be a great nurse like Leah one day” as she is currently a C.N.A with the hopes of one day finishing school and becoming an LPN. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You showed true kindness, in this world is what we need more of.”

CHCS selects DAISY Award winners twice each year through a blind selection process. Leah now joins a great group of past winners who have shown true compassion and dedication to providing exceptional nursing.

The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died of complications of the autoimmune disease idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) at the age of 33. During Barnes’ eight-week hospitalization, his family was awestruck by the care and compassion his nurses provided. One of the goals they set in creating a foundation in Pat's memory was to recognize extraordinary nurses who make an enormous difference in the lives of so many people through the superhuman work they do every day. In pursuit of this goal, the family created the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The simple award and thank you to nurses have grown into a meaningful recognition program embraced by healthcare organizations around the world.

CHCS nurses may be nominated for this award in three ways: