[May 21, 2015]

Four VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Nurses Receive DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses

The DAISY Foundation and UnitedHealthcare presented the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses to four nurses at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System for going above and beyond the call of duty.

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Melissa Barnes, vice president, The DAISY Foundation and Tony Lonigro, Southwest Region CEO, UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans present The DAISY Award to Leola Williams, RN, at a special ceremony today at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System in Los Angeles (Photo: Jamie Rector).

Melody David, RN, at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System received the first DAISY Award presented to her by Tony Lonigro, Southwest Region CEO, UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans and Melissa Barnes, vice president of The DAISY Foundation. David, of Hawthorne, Calif., received a certificate commending her for being an "Extraordinary Nurse" to her veteran patients. The certificate reas: "In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people."

An excerpt from David's nomination form: "Her care of my father has been exceptional since his transfer. Her communication with my family and myself regarding my dad's health/recovery has been above and beyond the call of duty."

Other VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System DAISY Award winners included: Leola Williams, RN, of Culver City, Calif. Her nomination form read: "She is deserving of this award because most of all, she is a veteran herself! She has contributed so much to improve the quality of care for our veterans for over 25 years. She is a leader, a true patient advocate, and she is extraordinary."

Andrea Lenertz, RN, of Los Angeles, Calif., was also honored today. Her nomination form read: "I would like to recognize this nurse for her exemplary performance and dedication to the care of veterans. Our team values her clinical expertise and system stewardship. Her patients speak highly of her ability to 'get them through' a highly complex health care system at the VA."

The fourth and final VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System DAISY Award winner was Yvette Anderson, RN, of Altadena, Calif. Her nomination form read: "She takes charge to ensure that our clinic is running smoothly. She goes out of her way to help all the physicians including rotating students. She is always able to handle multiple tasks at once and is diligent at delivering the best quality of patient care. Most important, she is compassionate and dedicated to our patients."

The DAISY Foundation's unique recognition program is part of many hospitals' recruitment and retention programs, helping to offset the acute shortage of nurses nationwide. Each month, nurses are selected by their nursing administration and peers to receive the DAISY Award, established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died in 1999 at the age of 33 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

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