May and June 2023 DAISY® and BEE Awards Recipients
Published on: August 9, 2023
Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its DAISY and BEE Award recipients for May and June 2023. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® recognizes exemplary nursing staff, and the BEE Award honors other outstanding staff members who support patient care, at the hospital and all outpatient clinics.
Chelsea Whalen, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the Car-Freshner Center for Women and Children, received the DAISY Award for May. Randy Halaburka, reprographics and storage coordinator, received the BEE Award for May. Jayme Rosso, Licensed Practical Nurse at the Walker Center for Cancer Care, received the DAISY Award for June. Tiffany Towsley, a nursing assistant (NA) at 4 Pavilion at Samaritan Medical Center, received the BEE award for June.
A grateful patient nominated Whalen for the May DAISY award, saying:
“Chelsea always took the time to thoroughly answer my questions related to healing and caring. All of the nurses, aids, and doctors cared for us well during our stay, but Chelsea demonstrated an extraordinary level of compassion for our family. We will forever be grateful!”
The grateful family of a patient nominated Rosso for the June DAISY award, saying:
“Oncology requires a special person to make those with such a devastating and often debilitating diagnosis feel safe and secure. She not only accompanies those to their room but also sits beside them with her gentle touch. She is a gentle nurse with a gentle heart.”
For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Whalen and Rosso were presented with certificates commending them as extraordinary nurses, DAISY Award pins, and symbolic sculptures called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. A larger version of this sculpture has also been installed in the Healing Gardens at Samaritan Medical Center in honor of all DAISY and BEE Award winners to come. It was purchased using funds donated by the Samaritan Auxiliary.
After receiving an overwhelming 20 nominations from his co-workers, a first in the history of this coveted award, Halaburka was presented with the May BEE award.
Randy, who sadly passed away in July, served Samaritan for over 37 years in various roles as our first courier, records management, and oversight of our bustling print shop. He was nominated for his work ethic, quick response, careful eye, and need to produce quality work. He will not be forgotten.
The family of a patient of 4 Pavilion at Samaritan Medical Center nominated Towsley for the June BEE award, saying:
“This was a very difficult time for my mom but when she mentioned Tiffany, she smiled and asked if she was back tonight. She said she was so reassured, knowing she was being cared for by someone that truly cares for her patients. It isn’t Tiffany’s job, it’s her calling.”
Halaburka and Towsley were presented with certificates, BEE Award pins, and gift bags with other tokens of gratitude.
Both awards will continue to be presented throughout the year, and patients, families, or colleagues can submit nominations at any time. To nominate or learn more about the Samaritan DAISY and BEE Awards, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.
From left, Chelsea Whalen, LPN, and Jayme Rosso, LPN, are DAISY award recipients. Randy Halaburka, reprographics and storage coordinator, pictured with his loved ones, and Tiffany Towsley, NA, are BEE award recipients.
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About Samaritan Medical Center
Samaritan Medical Center (Watertown, New York) is a 290-bed not-for-profit community medical center, offering a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services. From primary and emergency care to highly specialized medical and surgical services, such as cancer treatment, neonatal intensive care, behavioral health and addiction services, and imaging services, Samaritan Medical Center and its team of healthcare professionals proudly serves the medical needs of our civilian and military community. Quality, compassion, and safety are the basic principles by which exceptional care is delivered at Samaritan.
About The DAISY Foundation
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. In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 3,900 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of direct care Nurses, Nurse-led Teams, Nurse Leaders, Nursing Faculty, Nursing Students, through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects and for nurses participating in medical missions. More information is available at http://www.DAISYfoundation.org.