UT Health Jacksonville nurse receives DAISY Award
Mar. 12—Mandy Pugh, RN, recently received the DAISY Award for outstanding patient care at UT Health Jacksonville.
Pugh was nominated by a patient who said she went above and beyond normal care, never leaving her side and coaching her through her most painful moments
"God truly knew what He was doing when He put her on the path to becoming a nurse and when He put her on my care team. I am truly blessed, and my heart is overflowing with love for this amazing woman," the nomination read.
"Thank you so much for everything you've done for me and my family, but most of all thank you for putting up with me. I'm sorry I was difficult and stubborn or anything in between," the nomination continued. "I know I was not easy to deal with, but I'm glad it was you and that God put me in your care. I'm truly grateful for you and for the care you've given us."
As a winner of the DAISY Award, Pugh received a certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a sculpture called A Healer's Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the honoree's colleagues, patients and visitors.
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died in 1999 at age 33 from complications of an autoimmune disease (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Barnes 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. Today, this program has been implemented in more than 1,900 healthcare facilities, including UT Health East Texas.
