McLeod nurses receive DAISY Awards

McLeod Health Seacoast in Little River and McLeod Health Loris in Loris recently awarded two nurses a Daisy Award for their outstanding service and care. Haleigh Milligan, RN, a staff nurse on the Medical/Surgical floor at McLeod Health Seacoast, and Jose “Van” Aguilar, RN, a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at McLeod Health Loris, were recently announced as the May DAISY Award recipients. Milligan and Aguilar are the first recipients of the DAISY Award at McLeod Health Seacoast and McLeod Health Loris. They were nominated by a patient and co-worker for their extraordinary care and compassion.

To recognize those nurses at McLeod Health who are true examples of nursing excellence, patients, family members and co-workers may nominate nurses for the DAISY Award for extraordinary nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

On the nomination form for Milligan, the patient wrote, “Every time Haleigh came into my room, she was smiling and made the effort to make conversation. It made me feel like she truly cared about me. She treated me like I was her family, not just a number. She took her time to answer any questions that I asked and made me feel less stressed.”

“Presenting our first DAISY Award was the perfect way to celebrate Nurses’ Day and there is no greater honor for a nurse than to be recognized by their patients,” said Sherrill Nielson, Chief Nursing Officer with McLeod Health Seacoast.  “By receiving this award, Haleigh has reminded us all of what a nurse means to the patients and families who have given us the opportunity to care for them.” 

The nomination by Aguilar’s co-worker shared, ”Van is very attentive to all of his patients. He is a devoted, hard-working, dedicated and respectable nurse, and it is an honor to work with him.”

Nancy Barnes, Chief Nursing Officer with McLeod Health Loris, shared, “Van exemplifies the definition of a compassionate and caring nurse. His love for his profession reflects in every detail of his work which is so rewarding for his patients.”

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, California, 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 way of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

Nurses may be nominated for their strong clinical skills and the compassionate care they provide. Nomination forms are available on each nursing unit at McLeod Regional Medical Center or can be found at www.McLeodNursing.org. 

Recipients of the DAISY Award are chosen by the DAISY committee led by nurses at McLeod Regional Medical Center. Awards are given throughout the year at presentations in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients and visitors. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him for being 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.” The honoree is also given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.