Nurses Week Message, From Jones Memorial Hospital

It is with great pride and gratitude that Jones Memorial Hospital officially opened Nurses Week 2026 with the presentation of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The DAISY Award is an international recognition program honoring the superhuman work nurses perform every day. This award is given to nurses who demonstrate exceptional compassion and skill in the care of their patients and families. This year, the hospital is proud to announce multiple DAISY Awards were given. The Daisy Health Equity Award was presented to Margaret Eisenhardt, RN. The Daisy Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity was created to honor nurses whose work advances health equity, mitigating health disparities caused by social determinants of health. Known to her peers and patients as “Peg”, she is a Nurse Case Manager that assists patients with their plan of care in the hospital and setting up services for patients’ needs at home after discharge. Peg is known for her commitment to patient advocacy and was nominated by Jennifer Scheible who noted Peg’s unwavering dedication, creative thinking and extraordinary compassion when caring for a particularly challenging patient. “Thanks to her advocacy and determination, Peg provided this patient with a sense of dignity and respect that he so desperately needed. Peg’s exceptional care and advocacy for this patient exemplifies the values of the DAISY award. Her dedication to providing compassionate, patient-centered care and her ability to creatively problem-solve in a challenging situation are truly deserving of recognition.”

Peg received the award certificate in a DAISY Foundation portfolio, a DAISY Health Equity lapel pin, the Healer’s Touch sculpture, and a bouquet of daisy flowers.
The DAISY Team Award for Extraordinary Nurses was presented to the 2C Medical-Surgical Nursing Team, an extraordinary group of nursing staff whose dedication, compassion, and professionalism have left a lasting impression on the patients and families in their care. Team members include RN staff Kaitlyn Calladine, Abigail Cornish, Emily Costello, Taylor Craft, Nadezhda Davenport, Carver Dewey, Nicole Edwards, Nicholas Ellison, Joanne Feely, MaryEllen Forsyth, Joanne Gant, Cameron Gordon, Alexandria Hale, Kim Jenkins, Taegen MacCrea, Briana Meehan, Kristin Murphy, Anna O’Neal, Jamie Schine, Ailie Smithers, Erika Tracy, Benjamin Weimer, Breanna Willson, Abigail Zdrojewski, and LPN Crystal Fenti. The 2C nurses have received many individual and team Daisy nominations. The following summary reflects the collective voice of those who experienced their care firsthand.

These nurses demonstrated clinical skill and attentiveness across a wide range of patient needs — from monitoring vitals and managing post-operative recovery, to educating patients and families on procedures such as PICC line care. Time and again, these nurses went far beyond the expectations of their roles. Whether rearranging room equipment for a patient’s convenience, securing a proper meal when a dietary error was identified, spending hours at the bedside of a comfort care patient, or simply staying with an anxious patient until they felt safe — their willingness to do whatever is needed makes an unmistakable difference in the patient care experience. Patients and families described feeling like VIPs, feeling safe, feeling seen, and feeling truly cared for. Several noted that their nurses became more than caregivers — they became trusted friends and sources of comfort during some of the most frightening moments of their lives. These nurses recognize that exceptional care extends beyond the patient to include their loved ones. Families were kept informed, reassured, and welcomed as partners in care. During stressful and emotionally charged situations — including serious diagnoses and end-of-life care. The spirit of collaboration was a defining characteristic of this group. Nurses worked as a team to ensure patients’ needs were met, supported one another and their patients with equal dedication. The feedback received from nominations paints a vivid picture of a nursing team that embodies the very best of what healthcare can be. Patients described feeling blessed, cared for, and deeply grateful. Families expressed that these nurses hold a special place in their hearts. One nominator perhaps said it best — these nurses don’t just perform their duties, they make it obvious that they care, and that extra dimension makes all the difference.

Each member of the 2C Medical- Surgical Nursing Team received a DAISY Team Award certificate and a DAISY Team pin. The unit received a vase of daisy flowers and a DAISY Team Award plaque of recognition. The individual DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was presented to MaryEllen Middaugh, RN, a nurse whose dedication, compassion, and commitment to excellence embody everything this award represents. MaryEllen is an Infusion Nurse at the Jones Memorial Hospital Wilmot Cancer Institute and Infusion Center located in Olean, NY. MaryEllen was nominated by her coworker Lexis Coulter. “ Maryellen’s patient had an allergic reaction to her chemotherapy. She was quick to respond and get help, the provider, and promptly administer medications. Despite all of the clinical aspects of the reaction, Maryellen held the patients hand, explained everything that was happening and provided non stop reassurance she would be okay. The patient stated when everything was done, that she had been terrified of not being able to breathe and Maryellen had helped keep her calm. Maryellen is one of the kindest nurses I’ve had the pleasure of working with. She consistently shows compassion for her job and her patients. Her calming nature and special time she takes to ensure patients feel cared for and supported does not go unnoticed.” MaryEllen received the award certificate in a DAISY foundation portfolio, a DAISY Award lapel pin, the Healer’s Touch sculpture and a bouquet of daisy flowers.

Jennifer Pacer, RN, DAISY Coordinator, led the award presentations. Each presentation was attended by recipients’ fellow team members, JMH Hospital Administration, Nursing Administration and the staff members that placed the nominations. Each ceremony began with an explanation of the DAISY Award presented by Sandra Watkins, MS, RN, Chief Nursing Officer. Nominations were read to each award recipient by the coworker who nominated them. James Helms, CEO, presented Peg and MaryEllen with their DAISY Award certificates and the DAISY Team Award Plaque to the Medical-Surgical Team, with words of thanks. Sandra presented each individual award winner with the Healer’s Touch Sculpture, which represents the bond between nurses and their patients. Cinnamon rolls were enjoyed at the end of each presentation, as is tradition at the DAISY Award Ceremony.

An international organization, the DAISY Foundation was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by his family after his death in late 1999 at age 33 from complications of an autoimmune disease. DAISY, an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, was a way for the family to thank not only the nurses who cared for Patrick – and by extension his family – but exceptional nurses everywhere. If you or a family member has ever been a patient, you know firsthand the difference an exceptional nurse can make in the patient experience. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the exceptional compassionate care nurses provide patients and families every day. Nominations can be submitted online using the link at the JMH website (jones.urmc.edu) or by submitting a paper nomination in one of the nomination boxes located throughout Jones Memorial.

Please join us in congratulating our DAISY Award recipients and in celebrating all of the nurses at Jones Memorial Hospital who give so much of themselves in service to our patients and community.