AMERICUS —  Nurses at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, and other Phoebe Putney Health System facilities, are being honored with the DAISY Award for extraordinary nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize and honor the work nurses perform every day.
The most recent award recipient is Ashley Jones, RN, MSN, who works in Surgical Services.  Jones was nominated by a patient for not only being a knowledgeable and caring individual to patients and their families, but to her coworkers as well.
A patient wrote, “Ashley goes out of her way to check on patient’s health more than any other nurse. She keeps me informed as well as my wife, should we have any questions. If we had more people like her that cared as much as she does, getting over an illness would be a lot easier. Give her my love and God’s blessing to Ashley.”
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, California, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes 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 Barnes and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
Each quarter at PSMC, a nurse will be selected to receive The DAISY Award based on criteria established by the staff. At a presentation given in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors, the honoree will receive a certificate commending her or him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” The honoree will also be given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.
One day while Pat was in the hospital, he asked his family to bring him a Cinnabon® cinnamon roll plus enough for all the nurses in his unit.  With the help of Cinnabon’s parent company, FOCUS Brands, The DAISY Foundation carries on this tradition by serving Cinnabons to all the nurses in the Award recipient’s unit in thanks for everything they do for their patients and families.  Ashley will receive Cinnabons to share with her coworkers from Frank Ross, Jr., Owner of Cinnabon located in the Albany Mall.