CTMC Recognizes RN With The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS—Ruth Cummings, RN was honored as the latest The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses ® winner at Central Texas Medical Center (CTMC).

The award is part of The DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. 

“Ruth is an exemplary nurse that lives our mission every day,” said Catherine Amitrano, CTMC Chief Nursing Officer. “Our wonderful nursing team strives to provide compassionate, whole-person care to every one of our patients.”

Cummings was nominated by a fellow nurse after a patient letter thanked Cummings for going above and beyond the call of duty.

The patient, who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, was deeply moved by Cummings’ compassionate care during a life crisis, describing how much Ruth touched her life.

The nominating team member reiterated this theme highlighting how Cummings encourages other nurses to stand up for their patients and co-workers.

“Ruth never lets her co-workers ‘drown’ and exhibits the true meaning of a team player!” the nominator said.

CTMC will continue to honor its nurses with The DAISY Award quarterly. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues. 

The award recipient is chosen by a committee at CTMC 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.

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.                       

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 CTMC are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

This is one initiative of The DAISY Foundation to express gratitude to the nursing profession. Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing, and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.