Extraordinary Nurses Recognized at UP Health System – Marquette

Nurses at UP Health System – Marquette are being honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.

The DAISY Award recipient for this quarter is Maradie Milkey, RN, a nurse who works in the Family Birthing Center. Milkey has worked for UP Health System for more than 20 years.

“I had the privilege of being cared for by Maradie when my wife and I had a child at UP Health System – Marquette in March. Maradie was gracious, smart, knowledgeable, and very reassuring. She cared for us during a 3-day pre-term, high-risk pregnancy stay. My wife received comprehensive, top-notch care and I felt safe and confident knowing we were in good hands.” stated Shannon Pace-Lacar, an RN at UP Health System – Marquette.

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes and stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System (DAISY).

UP Health System would like to also recognize the entire team of nurses who were nominated for the DAISY award:

• Jason Doney, RN | Intensive Care Unit
• Liz Drum, RN | Intensive Care Unit
• Casey Reynolds, RN | Operating Room
• Alycia Davidson, RN | Intensive Care Unit
• Jill Barrett, LPN | Digestive & Liver
• Jennifer Lafayette, RN | Cancer Center
• Kat Nagelkirk, RN | Neuro-Ortho-Peds Unit
• Claudia Ngafeeson, RN | Neuro-Ortho-Peds Unit
• Karen Mills, RN | Neuro-Ortho-Peds Unit
• Danielle Bailey, RN | Medical
• Emily Koren, RN | Clinical Case Manager
• Reegan Lange, RN | Cardiac Unit       
• Kelsey Anderson, RN | Family Birthing Center
• Lauren Angeli, RN | Family Birthing Center

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit 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 colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at UP Health System-Marquette to receive The DAISY Award. 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.

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

 “We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in The DAISY Award program.  Nurses are heroes every day.  It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that” stated Robin Waters, RN, NEBC, Director of Nursing and Interim Chief Nursing Officer at UP Health System-Marquette.       

In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 3,900 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of direct care Nurses, Nurse-led Teams, Nurse Leaders, Nursing Faculty, Nursing Students, through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects and nurses participating in medical missions.

To nominate an extraordinary nurse with a DAISY nomination, visit www.mgh.org/or-healthcare-professionals/daisy-award, to submit a nomination form. For more information on the DAISY award, please visit the DAISY Foundation website at http://DAISYfoundation.org