Desiree Monaghan, RN, was named the most recent Greene County Medical Center DAISY Award recipient at a ceremony held on Thursday, November 19. She started her career at the medical center five years ago as a certified nurse assistant (C.N.A.), then transitioned to working as a nurse in acute care and obstetrics. Currently, she serves as case manager in quality management, coordinating care and discharge planning goals with patients and their families.
The award was given to Monaghan in front of a full room of guests who came to honor seven nominees. Katie Heldt, chief nurse executive, read all of the nominations and each nominee was given a bouquet of daisies, a special name badge card and a DAISY pin.
Monaghan received a DAISY certificate and a beautiful hand-carved sculpture. Monaghan joins thousands of nurses worldwide who, in the past 17 years, have been recognized with the DAISY Award for the extraordinary care they provide patients.
Monaghan was nominated by the full staff of 21st Century Rehab physical and occupational therapists at the medical center. The nomination letter stated, “Desiree embodies what a DAISY nurse is through her compassionate care, hands-on approach and willingness to do what is necessary for patients to succeed. She continuously gives of herself for the betterment of the patients, families and the staff.”
After receiving the award, Monaghan said, “It is always an honor to stand up next to so many amazing nurse nominees and hear the heartwarming success stories of our patients. The DAISY Award means so more than just an award for me. It speaks volumes about the staff in our hospital having created a patient-centered environment that allows me to provide everything the patient needs before, during and after their stay. It takes a team to have these success stories.”
The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the “superhuman efforts nurses perform every day.” That foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. He died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
DAISY Award nominees included:
- Sarah Borgeson, Public Health
- Karen Carman, Cardiac Rehab/Care Management
- Jeanne Hoening, Long Term Care
- Desiree Monaghan, Quality Management
- Katie Palmer, Acute Care
- Abby Skoglund, Acute Care
- Kelsey Stumbo, Acute Care
The DAISY Award is given to an extraordinary nurse at the medical center twice a year. The next award will be given in May 2016, but nominations are accepted any time with nomination forms available throughout the medical center or online at gcmchealth.com. Nominations can be made by patients, their family members, caretakers, community members or co-workers. Patients and their family members are especially encouraged to participate in the nomination process.
Previous DAISY Award recipients at the medical center include Jenny Taylor (West Central Orthopedics), Laine Custer (Public Health), and Lori Harrah (Long Term Care).
DAISY Award nominees (left to right): Karen Carman, Abby Skoglund, Katie Palmer, Desiree Monaghan, Kelsey Stumbo, Jeanne Hoening and Sarah Borgeson.