Lesley Day Taylor, a registered nurse at Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) was recently honored with The DAISY Team Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day. 

Lesley works in the Progressive Care unit at Tift Regional Medical Center. She was nominated for the award by the family member of a patient who received end-of-life care at TRMC. 

The nomination form described Lesley as “the definition of someone who is truly called to be a nurse and genuinely shows compassion.” The nomination also mentioned, “She made a not-so-great situation that no one ever wants to be in a lot more bearable, and our family is forever grateful.” 

“Lesley is an exceptionally compassionate nurse and continuously goes above and beyond for her patients,” said Annsley Mathis, Nurse Manager for Progressive Care. “She genuinely possesses the science and art of nursing and we are blessed to have her serving our community's needs in extraordinary ways.”

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes.  Patrick 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 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. 

"When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, President and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do.  The kind of work the nurses at Tift Regional Medical Center are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses has been adopted by healthcare facilities around the world to celebrate nurses for their extraordinary care and compassion.  The DAISY Team Award is for nurse-led teams of two or more who come together to solve a specific situation by going above and beyond.  Nursing teams may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues, and they are chosen by a committee of nurses at Tift Regional Medical Center to receive The DAISY Team Award. The DAISY Team Award is presented each quarter at a surprise presentation.  Each member of the Nursing Team receives a certificate commending them for being an "Extraordinary Nurse."  The certificate reads: "In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are and the incredibly meaningful difference your teamwork makes in the lives of so many people."  The Team also receives a specially engraved plaque engraved with the name of the Team.  

“We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in the DAISY Award program,” said Tonia Garrett, Chief Nursing Officer for Southwell. “Nurses like Lesley go above and beyond for their patients, and we are grateful to the DAISY foundation for providing this on-going recognition platform for nurses.”