By Cheyenne Kimbell, president, UIANS
Every year, the University of Iowa Association of Nursing Students (UIANS) sponsors the DAISY in Training Award. The DAISY in Training award was created by the DAISY Foundation to honor and recognize outstanding nursing students.
The DAISY in Training Award seeks to reward those nursing students who go above and beyond their student expectations to deliver extraordinary care and compassion. The DAISY Foundation wants this award to remind students even on their hardest day, why they chose to become nurses. Each of the students who are honored stood out to someone – whether it was a faculty member, staff, another student, or a patient – and those individuals took the time to nominate them for this award.
The winner of this year’s DAISY in Training Award goes to Jennifer Parker, a December 2017 BSN graduate from Danville, California.
“Jenny exemplifies the qualities of a nurse who is able to skillfully blend the science of nursing with the art of compassionately caring for patients and families. Most importantly, she has displayed incredible insight into the priorities for patient and family care based on the unique physical, developmental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of each,” explained UI College of Nursing Lecturer Mila Grady, MSN, RN. “She is creative and goes above and beyond to bring joy to patients, families, coworkers and peers who may be encountering stressful situations. One example of this is when Jenny cared for a patient on level 11 of the children's hospital around Halloween. Jenny and her preceptor worked to transform this child's IV pole and pumps into a decorative costume. She truly understands the power of being a positive presence in the work environment.
“Through conversations with her this semester, it is obvious that Jenny is extremely supportive of her peers when they are experiencing both academic and personal challenges. Jenny typically enters a room with a smile on her face. Her cheerful presence has made a positive impact on patients, families, coworkers, peers. She maintains a positive attitude even in the most difficult of circumstances. Jenny is the epitome of the kind of nurse each of us would desire to help us navigate the trials of illness. Her kindness, compassion, excellent clinical skills and extraordinary care will have an enormous impact on the lives of her patients.”
With considerable interest in pediatric psychology and oncology, Parker’s future plans include pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.
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DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The DAISY Foundation was formed in November, 1999, by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). The nursing care Patrick received when hospitalized profoundly touched his family.
The DAISY Award is an on-going recognition program in partnership with health care organizations that celebrates the extraordinary skill and compassion direct care nurses bring to their patients and families every day. For more information, go to DAISYfoundation.org.