The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the efforts nurses perform every day.

Card was nominated by Julie Miller for going above and beyond.

“I had to undergo emergency gallbladder surgery,” Miller wrote. “My whole ordeal started in the ER. The following morning, I was moved upstairs to the third floor to await my surgery that afternoon. I met Tessa shortly after I arrived on the floor. As someone who usually feels a lot of anxiety, Tessa’s warmth immediately put me at ease. She was knowledgeable, she really listened, and she was so nice throughout the process. She kept my parents in the know throughout my surgery and was there when I woke up. I was thankful that she was my nurse the following day as I got ready to go home. I could hear that there was a difficult patient in my hallway that Tessa was assisting. She never came into my room with an attitude or complained. She made a really sucky situation tolerable and I feel lucky that I got to have her as a nurse throughout my stay.”

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Barnes died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Puerperal (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick 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.

Rick Allen, Warren General Hospital CEO at left, is pictured with Tessa Card, center, who was honored with the DAISY Award recently at Warren General Hospital.

Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at Warren General Hospital to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him as 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.” Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

“We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in The DAISY Award program,” said Rick Allen, Warren General Hospital CEO. “Nurses are heroes every day. It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that.”