Making a Difference in Everyday Excellence

For the past four years, GRMC has participated in The DAISY Award to recognize excellence in nursing.

DAISY stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System and was created in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). His family wanted to do something special in his memory. DAISY was created to award nurses for their everyday excellence.

Doris Rindels, Kim Jones, and Todd Linden

On April 29, GRMC honored the 2015 DAISY nurse for outstanding leadership, patient care, excellent nursing skills, and dedication to GRMC. In recognition of this award, the honoree receives a certificate, a special DAISY pin, a bouquet of fresh daisies, and an invitation to a special luncheon at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines on June 12. All DAISY Award nurses selected for the year are honored with others from Mercy Health Network hospitals.

GRMC’s 2015 DAISY Award goes to Kim M. Jones, RN, a member of the obstetrical team in the Kintzinger Women’s Health Center. Kim received nominations from supervisors and coworkers.

“Kim demonstrates compassion to women in labor through her kind words of encouragement. Her confidence, compassion, professionalism, and knowledge base are all attributes she utilizes to build trust in the nurse-patient relationship. Kim is cognizant of the importance of skin to skin time with mothers.”

“Kim goes above and beyond. She came in during a snow storm on short notice to cover another department so out of town staff could go home safely. She has been noted by her peers as an excellent teacher for NRP, prenatal classes, and preceptoring new employees and students. And she is a great GRMC advocate out in the community. Each year she helps distribute bike helmets to area third graders.  She was instrumental in implementing the transcutaneous bilirubin meter so GRMC follows AAP guidelines regarding infant surveillance for jaundice.”

“I would trust her with any of my family members.” “Kim is the kind of nurse that truly meets the worthiness of receiving the DAISY award. She is the kind of nurse we would want taking care of our families and our patients.”

Eighteen nurses were nominated at GRMC this year by patients, family members, co-workers, and supervisors. Every nomination shares incredible stories of compassionate care, great teamwork, and extraordinary nursing. It’s a tough decision to make.

Previous DAISY nurses from GRMC are Kim McNurlen, RN, Medical Surgical Unit in 2014; Diana Fenner, RN, Home Health, in 2013; and Ellen Waterbury, RN, ICU, in 2013.

May 6 to 12 is National Nurses’ Week. It’s a great time to recognize the dedication and compassion of nurses at GRMC and its affiliated clinics.

“The one really positive thing we could hold onto from the experience of his eight-week hospitalization was the skillful and amazingly compassionate care he received from his nurses - even when he was totally sedated. When Pat died, we felt compelled to express our profound gratitude to nurses for the work they do for patients and their families every day. This is the primary mission of The DAISY Foundation.” – quoted fro