RRMC nurse Cassie Harnett receivesthe DAISY Award

“This award recognizes a specific nurse for delivering the compassionate, expert and extraordinary care all our Rutland Regional nurses are known for,” RRMC stated on its website. “Nurses may be nominated for the DAISY Award by patients, families, colleagues, physicians and staff.”

The DAISY Award was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at 33 of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), an auto-immune disease. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System and over 285 nationwide hospitals currently honor their nurses through the DAISY program, according to RRMC.

Each DAISY Award winner receives a framed certificate of recognition, a DAISY lapel pin and a sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

At Rutland Regional, all registered nurses who demonstrate excellence through clinical expertise, extraordinary service or compassionate care are eligible to receive The DAISY Award.