Zachary Lewis, RN, was honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at UNC Health Rockingham during last week’s Nurses Week celebration. Hospital nursing leadership along with senior administrators gathered on the unit to celebrate Lewis, along with his fellow nursing teammates and many of his family members.

A DAISY Award nomination for Lewis came from the family member of a patient who had physical challenges and lowered cognitive function.  The nominator stated that he went above and beyond to make sure that the patient was comfortable and that his family knew what was happening the whole stay.  Lewis made sure to include the family in the patient’s care plan and ensured that anything that was needed was gotten quickly. 

When asked what the award means to him, Lewis stated, “Receiving the DAISY Award means a lot to me, because it came from a patient. We don’t always get to see how things turn out, so hearing that I made a difference is very meaningful”

The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died from complications of the autoimmune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) at the age of thirty-three. His family wanted a meaningful way to recognize and honor nurses who, like those caring for Patrick and his family, provide excellent clinical care while showing great compassion for their patients. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem.

To nominate a nurse for The DAISY Award^® at UNC Health Rockingham, visit www.uncrockingham.org/thank-a-caregiver.

Photo Caption: 1) DAISY Award^® Recipient, Zachary Lewis, RN, (third from the left), was celebrated by hospital leadership. 2) DAISY Award^® Recipient, Zachary Lewis, RN, (center) was celebrated by Dr. Bertrand Fote and Andrew Fix.