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The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital recognizes the exceptional work nurses do every day.

Nominate a Nurse or Nurse Leader (English/Español)

What is a DAISY Award? 

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses offers patients, families, and colleagues a way to honor nurses. The program also increases nurses':

  • Job satisfaction
  • Retention
  • Teamwork
  • Pride
  • Organizational culture
  • Healthy work environment

The award is given quarterly to outstanding nurses in more than 3,000 health care facilities and nursing schools across the United States and 18 other countries. St. Jude is among those hospitals.

We encourage patients, caregivers, and staff to nominate an extraordinary nurse who has shown:

  • Clinical expertise
  • Compassionate care
  • Leadership as an outstanding role model in the nursing community

The award was established by the DAISY Foundation, an organization dedicated to eliminating diseases that attack the immune system.

The foundation was established in 2000, by the family of J. Patrick Barnes. He died at age 33 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). After his death, Barnes’ parents created the Daisy Foundation to recognize the skills and compassionate care of nurses, including those who took care of their son.

Learn more

DAISY Award honorees personify the remarkable patient care experience at St. Jude. These nurses consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinary, compassionate care. They are recognized as outstanding role models in our nursing community.

— Mike Patterson, DAISY Foundation board member and father of a former St. Jude patient

DAISY Award rewards

The honoree will receive a:

  • Certificate

  • DAISY Award pin

  • "Healer's Touch" sculpture 

Staff in the nurse’s unit will receive a sweet treat.

Who can be nominated for a DAISY Award?

  • Registered nurses, including research nurses
  • Licensed practical nurses
  • Advanced practice nurses

How to submit a DAISY Award nomination

Anyone can nominate a nurse and share the story of how the nurse showed compassionate care for a patient. If a nominee is selected for the Daisy Award, the person who made the nomination will be notified.

Submit a DAISY Award nomination (English/Español)

If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, email: daisyawardscommittee@stjude.org

Past DAISY honorees