Cleveland Clinic Expands DAISY Award Nursing Recognition Program

By Kelly Hancock, DNP, RN, NE-BC

If you are a nurse leader, you’ve likely witnessed the impact of meaningful recognition in nursing. The way it uplifts nurses with a renewed commitment to their profession; the immense pride it bestows; or, the deepened loyalty it creates to both nursing team and healthcare organization.

At Cleveland Clinic, meaningful recognition is part of our culture – especially, within the Stanley Shalom Zielony Institute for Nursing Excellence. For decades, our nursing organization has honored and recognized Cleveland Clinic nurses who have excelled in their careers. Among other initiatives, our Nursing Excellence Awards program, which encompasses both local and enterprise-wide awards, honors more than 100 nurses annually.

To further enhance Cleveland Clinic’s commitment to meaningful recognition in nursing, on Jan. 1, 2017, Cleveland Clinic began offering the prestigious DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at all Cleveland Clinic health system hospitals.

Patients and families saying thank you

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was created by the family of J. Patrick Barnes as a way to say “thank you” to nurses everywhere for all that they do for patients and patients’ families.

In 1999, Mark and Bonnie Barnes, co-founders of the DAISY Foundation, tragically lost their son, Patrick, to an autoimmune disease. “DAISY” stands for “Diseases Attacking the Immune System.” Throughout the eight weeks that Patrick Barnes battled the disease, the Barnes family experienced what they called, “extraordinary, compassionate and skillful nursing care.” Thus, they created the DAISY Foundation and the DAISY Award as a means for nursing recognition by patients and families everywhere and as a memorial to their son.

Today, with an international presence, the DAISY Foundation honors, recognizes and celebrates nursing professionals in 2,400 healthcare facilities in all 50 states and 14 countries.

Supporting meaningful recognition

For several years, Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Akron General and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi have collaborated with the DAISY Foundation, participating in the award program.

Akron General and Hillcrest Hospital both implemented the program in 2013, and Abu Dhabi in 2015. Together, these three hospitals have recognized approximately 20 Cleveland Clinic nurses annually with the DAISY Award. Additionally, in the one-month that has passed since Cleveland Clinic’s implementation of the program system-wide, there have already been more than 110 DAISY Award nominations for Cleveland Clinic health system nurses.

In a presentation delivered to more than 450 nurse leaders at Cleveland Clinic’s 2016 Nursing Leadership Summit, Bonnie Barnes referred to the DAISY program and the program’s results as: “the power of gratitude.”

She pointed to the way in which patients and families perceive nursing care – not only the skill, but the kindness, the sensitivity – and the direct impact that perception has on evidence and outcomes, specifically retention, satisfaction, engagement and an overall environment of nursing excellence.

Through various case studies, this year-long meaningful recognition program has been proven to increase both nursing leadership and nursing team engagement, enhance transparency of work-related successes among nursing colleagues, and improve organizational culture, job satisfaction and teamwork.

Additionally, from a nurse leader perspective, being a part of the DAISY Foundation easily encourages and inspires and reminds all nurses why they chose this wonderful profession.

Kelly Hancock is the Executive Chief Nursing Officer of the Cleveland Clinic Health System, and Chief Nursing Officer of Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.

Follow Kelly on Twitter at @kkellyhancock.