DAISY awards recognise and inspire nursing excellence
Nursing leaders must take time to celebrate nurses who quietly make a difference to patients’ lives as this will inspire others amid difficult times. DAISY awards do this and nurse leaders can be part of the process by honouring nurses in a way that allows for reflection and celebration while boosting morale among their teams. An opportunity to take part is coming up at RCNi’s Nursing Live event in Birmingham.
Nursing leaders must take time to celebrate nurses who quietly make a difference to patients’ lives as this will inspire others amid difficult times
When we reflect on the most meaningful examples of excellent nursing, they are not often tied to metrics, budgets or initiatives, but to people.
We think of the nurse who stayed for hours after their shift had ended to comfort a dying patient’s family; or the nurse who spotted a subtle clinical change that ultimately saved a life; nurses who don’t seek out recognition but thoroughly deserve it.
Recognition and reflection
The DAISY award was created by the DAISY Foundation to honour exactly that kind of practitioner – to celebrate nurses whose compassion and clinical excellence have a profound impact on patients and their families.
Often, nurses don’t have the opportunity to pause and reflect on the incredible impact they’re having. This isn’t just a moment of recognition it’s also a moment of reflection.
In a time of great pressure on the nursing workforce, meaningful recognition is a leadership responsibility – one that affirms the values at the heart of our profession. One might even go as far as saying that it is our moral obligation.
Nurse leaders are essential to bringing meaningful recognition and the DAISY award to their organisations. The award offers an opportunity for stories to be shared by patients, families and colleagues, as they are the people who can most meaningfully describe a nurse’s impact.
Nurse leaders support the teams that select honourees and celebrate those recognised with an award in ways that boost morale and reinforce purpose for the whole team.
Inspiring narratives of compassionate care
DAISY stories remind us, and our teams, why we chose this profession: lifting spirits, fostering trust and strengthening engagement, tying us to our purpose because the recognition comes from those who matter most: our patients, their families and our peers.
Recognition, especially when grounded in gratitude, becomes a force for retention, changing the narrative from why nurses leave to why nurses stay – as well as a force for well-being, innovation and quality care.
We are delighted to announce that a DAISY award will be presented at this year’s RCNi Nursing Live event at Birmingham NEC on 6 November, sponsored by Tendable, and invite all nurse leaders and managers to shine a light on extraordinary nursing by nominating a colleague or team member.
Embrace meaningful recognition, encourage nominations, share stories, and celebrate those whose care has made all the difference. In doing so, you won't just recognise excellence – you will help cultivate it.
Find out more about Nursing Live’s DAISY award for extraordinary nurses and nominate a colleague.
