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The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses

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

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses offers patients, families, and colleagues a way to honor nurses. 

The award is given 4 times a year 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 outstanding 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.

DAISY Award criteria

Staff eligible to receive this award are:

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

The honoree receives a certificate, DAISY Award pin, and "Healer's Touch" sculpture. Staff in the nurse’s unit will receive a sweet treat.

Make a 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.

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

2024 DAISY Award recipients

Erin Burke

Erin Burke MSN, RN, PNP-BC

Center of Advanced Practice, Solid Tumor

Patricia Davis

Patricia Davis BSN, RN, CPAN

Operating Room

Peggy Mestemacher

Peggy Mestemacher BSN, RN, CPHON

4K Inpatient

Maddie McMillian

Maddie McMillian BSN, RN

4K Inpatient

Alexis Price

Alexis Price BSN, RN, CPHON

DI Peri-Anesthesia

2024 DAISY Nurse Leader recipient

Jasmin Elizarraras

Jasmin Elizarraras MSN, RN, CNML

5K Inpatient Nurse Manager

Past DAISY honorees