Joni Winningham, RN, outpatient behavioral health, became the 97th Blessing Hospital nurse to receive the international DAISY award during a ceremony on June 24, 2024, for her extraordinary nursing care.
She received two nominations that read, in part: “Joni dedicates herself to patients, working endless hours and staying until she gets every patient in need called back before heading home to her own family. She has such a big heart and has earned so much respect throughout the clinic from her patients, coworkers, and clinic providers. If a patient comes into the clinic in a crisis or just needs someone to talk to, or a co-worker/provider needs help, Joni always drops what she is doing and does it with a smile. She knows her patients by name and loves to see progress in each patient.”
“Joni has been a part of the behavioral health team for 22 years. During that time, she has always excelled in providing compassionate care to all of her patients. Despite the fact that Joni carries a very large caseload, she knows all of her patients well, and she makes them all feel validated and seen. Joni makes them all feel important, listens to their concerns, and provides them with reassurance. I constantly hear from our patients how much they appreciate her and how thankful they are for all the time and patience Joni dedicates to them.”
DAISY stands for “Diseases Attacking the Immune System.” The family of a 33-year-old man, who died of an immune system disorder, began the program in 1999 to honor his memory by recognizing extraordinary nurses everywhere who make a difference in the lives of people by the work they do every day. More than 5,400 healthcare providers and nursing education programs worldwide participate in the DAISY Award program.
DAISY award nomination forms are located on all nursing units throughout Blessing Hospital and on the internet at blessinghealth.org/recognize