It’s no secret. Nursing is the lifeblood of any healthcare organization.
The thing is, most nurses are too busy or too humble – or, in many cases, too much of both – to call attention to themselves or the good work they do.
That’s precisely why St. Tammany Health System in spring 2022 began participating in the Daisy Award initiative, an international program through which health system colleagues and patients are invited to nominate nurses in recognition of the skillful, compassionate care they provide.
And that brings us to this week’s installment in our 70-part history series, which today hits the midway point.
Installment No. 35: Petal power
Today’s artifact: The Daisy Award wall of honor, installed on the first floor of St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital and inscribed with the names of those STHS nurses who have earned the award.
Why it is significant: In early 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic was still very active and still very much on people’s minds around the world.
Incidentally, so was gratitude toward healthcare workers.
And while the Northshore community’s support for frontline caregivers was both overwhelming and welcome, there were those at St. Tammany Health System who saw a need for a permanent, more formalized way to show appreciation for the life-saving work of local nurses.
And, so, in March of that year, the health system introduced its participation in the Daisy Award initiative, an international recognition program for extraordinary nursing.
Every quarter since, the health system has honored nurses nominated for the award by patients, patients’ families and colleagues.
The first recipient was, fittingly, STHS Chief Nursing Officer Kerry Milton, a 42-year veteran of the health system and a vocal champion of its nurses. To-date, more than two dozen nurses have been honored in surprise ceremonies held in their unit of the health system.
Among other things, each honoree receives a one-of-a-kind stone sculpture crafted in Zimbabwe called the Healer's Touch Sculpture – as well as the satisfaction of knowing their dedication and professionalism has not gone unrecognized.
To make sure no one forgets, each winner’s name is inscribed upon a Daisy winners wall of honor, installed in the hospital’s first-floor Conference Center Hallway in July 2023. Hundreds of people pass it every day.
“This award is so special to me because many years ago I received it,” said STHS Clinical Education Rebecca Wood, who spearheaded the effort to bring it to the local health system. “So when I was given the opportunity in my current role to bring the program to St. Tammany Health System, I was glad to bring it here and make it happen.”
Do you have a St. Tammany Parish Hospital story or item to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email us at CommDept@stph.org.
Next week – Installment No. 36: What's cookin'?
Last week – Installment No. 34: The dawn of a new era