SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Nurses perform remarkable acts every day, yet are often the unsung heroes of health care. With the goal of honoring extraordinary nurses throughout the year, Regional West Medical Center is proud to launch the DAISY Award, and is asking patients, family members, providers, and fellow nurses for nominations.

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, Calif., and was established in 2000 to honor the memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of 33 from complications of ITP, an auto-immune disease. In memory of Patrick, his family recalled the skilled, compassionate care that he received from his nurses during his eight-week hospitalization. They wanted to say thank you to nurses everywhere by establishing a recognition program – The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

RNs and LPNs can be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues, and one winner will be chosen quarterly by a committee of his or her peers. Honorees will each receive a DAISY Award honoree pin, a certificate, a hand-crafted Healing Touch sculpture, a copy of the nomination, and a DAISY bag. Honorees and their co-workers will also celebrate the award with cinnamon rolls for everyone in the department.      

Connie Rupp, MSN, RN, Regional West’s Chief Nursing Officer, said “We are proud to be among the health care organizations participating in the DAISY Award program. Nurses are heroes every day. It’s important that our nurses know that their work is highly valued, and the DAISY Foundation provides an excellent way for us to do that.”

There are now over 2,500 health care facilities in all 50 states and 14 countries that have committed to recognizing their extraordinary nurses with the DAISY Award.

To nominate a Regional West nurse, go to RegionalWestDaisy.org. For more information on the DAISY Award Program, go to DAISYfoundation.org.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 182-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.