Blythedale Children’s Hospital Celebrates Compassionate Nursing with DAISY Award

Jan. 19, 2011 - PRLog -- VALHALLA, NY  – Tina M. Buckley, RN, CPN, received a DAISY Award for Exceptional Nurses at Blythedale Children’s Hospital this week, in recognition of her extraordinary  care of patients and their families. Nominated by a grateful family, Buckley received the national award during a surprise ceremony held at the Hospital on Monday.

“Compassionate, caring nursing interventions are the things that become the art of nursing, and what we do each day,” said Chief Nursing Officer Linda Hurwitz during the ceremony.  Buckley was moved to tears as excerpts of the nomination were read by Hurwitz. “She is a treasure in the nursing profession, and will always be a treasure to our family.”  Buckley received an “Exceptional Nurse” certificate from the DAISY Foundation, a daisy pin, and a small handcrafted sculpture made by Shona artisans of Zimbabwe. “The ‘Healer’s Touch’ sculpture reflects the importance of healers in that culture, which echoes the value Blythedale, patients and parents place on nurses,” Hurwitz added.

A 1994 graduate of Dominican College, Buckley is a Certified Pediatric Nurse, as well as a Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor. She has been a nurse at Blythedale for 17 years and currently works on the Infant & Toddler Unit. She resides in Chestnut Ridge, NY, with her husband, Tim, and their three children.

Referred to as a “perennial favorite” by her colleagues, Buckley chose to say a few words of thanks during the morning’s celebration. “All of the patients and parents make a difference in my life,” she said.

The celebration of collaborative nursing care concluded with Cinnabon cinnamon rolls for the entire unit, courtesy of the company that serves as a DAISY program corporate partner.

Registered nurses can be nominated for a DAlSY Award by staff, co-workers, patients or patients' parents and family members.  Winners are selected quarterly by an 11-member committee based on a list of criteria including compassionate caring, inspiration of others, resolution of patient care challenges, and establishing a caring presence and healing bond with the patient and family.

The DAlSY Award, an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, is a national program that began in 2001 by the DAlSY Foundation in Glen Ellen, California. The DAlSY Foundation was started by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a bleeding condition in which the blood doesn't clot properly. Deeply touched by the compassionate care Patrick received from his nurses, the Barnes family created the national DAlSY Award for Extraordinary Nurses to recognize the incredible work that nurses do every day. Focus Brands Inc., makers of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, and AONE (American Organization for Nurse Executives) are corporate sponsors of the DAlSY Awards.

For more information on the DAISY Award at Blythedale Children’s Hospital, please contact Blythedale’s Chief Nursing Officer Linda Hurwitz at LindaH@blythedale.org or 914-592-7555, ext. 351.  For more information about the DAISY Foundation, please visit www.daisyfoundation.org

About Blythedale Children’s Hospital
Founded more than 100 years ago, Blythedale Children’s Hospital has been a leader in developing innovative, multi-disciplinary inpatient and ambulatory programs, as well as a community resource for children with a variety of medical concerns and their families. Through its inpatient and day hospital programs, Blythedale Children’s Hospital treats more than 300 children daily, making it one of the largest providers of children’s services in New York State. In addition, the Hospital provides diagnosis and treatment for hundreds of outpatients with a wide range of medical difficulties. For more information about Blythedale Children’s Hospital, visit www.blythedale.org