Extraordinary Nurse Honored with DAISY Award at LAMC

An extremely caring and compassionate nurse at Los Alamos Medical Center was recently recognized with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® at a beautiful celebration ceremony. DAISY Award recipient Casiphia (Cassie) Desir-Pamphile is an incredible RN in the Medical Surgical Unit.

The award is part of the worldwide DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate care that nurses provide patients and families every day. The hard work of all nurses and caregivers at LAMC is appreciated and celebrated, but the care and compassion displayed by these DAISY nominees is especially celebrated:

• Honoree: Casiphia Desir-Pamphile, RN - Medical Surgical Unit
• Nominee: Jacob Cassell, RN - PACU
• Nominee: Julie Heikka, RN - Endo Center
• Nominee: Sarah Tucker, RN - Endo Center
• Nominee: Edyta Bartoszek, RN - Medical Surgical Unit
• Nominee: Natasha Gill, RN - Medical Surgical Unit
• Nominee: Maura Heaton, RN - PACU
• Nominee: Skye McKinney, RN - Medical Surgical Unit
• Nominee: Roxann Arnold, RN - Medical Surgical Unit

Cassie was nominated by a patient’s family member for her genuine compassion, positive energy and exemplary actions during a family’s very difficult situation. “Cassie was always very patient and helpful with (my mother) as she was very upset and worried about Dad,” the nomination reads, noting that Cassie would go out of her way to provide food and comfort to this patient.

The DAISY Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. 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. (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.

Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and physicians. 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.

The ceremony was concluded with wonderful treats provided by Nutrition Services, which included DAISY-themed cupcakes, fruit, lemonade, and, of course - cinnamon rolls. The honoree will also take the DAISY Award poster back to their unit to be displayed proudly for all to see that unit represents all that DAISY means.

Would you like to express gratitude to a Los Alamos Medical Center nurse that went above and beyond? Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, their peers and physicians. To nominate a nurse from LAMC for the DAISY Award online, please visit: https://www.losalamosmedicalcenter.com/daisy-award