First Wynn Hospital nurse honored with DAISY Award

UTICA — Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) announced that one of its registered nurses (RNs) has won the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses — the first to be awarded to a nurse working at the new Wynn Hospital in downtown Utica. The award recognizes nurses for the compassionate care they perform on a daily basis. A patient nominated winner Josie Shafer, RN, for her kind and respectful care, according to a news release from MVHS. Shafer received a hand-carved statue, a certificate, and scholarship opportunities for continued learning. Each winner is selected from a pool of nominations submitted by patients and/or family members and evaluated by a group of peers from across the health system, MVHS said. “Josie demonstrates a well-rounded repertoire of highly professional nursing skills and a great sense of how to build meaningful rapport while facilitating smooth, skillful care,” Shafer’s nomination read, according to the release. “She is extremely compassionate. Josie went above and beyond by reaching out to my specialists to communicate questions, concerns, and to maintain high levels of excellence in care. Josie helped me through difficult symptoms and was steadfast in giving me a truly compassionate care experience. She is outstanding,” the patient said. Based in Glen Ellen, California, the not-for-profit DAISY Foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of 33 in 1999 from complications of an autoimmune disease. The care he and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired the award to thank nurses for the difference they make in the lives of their patients and patient families.