October 2025 DAISY®, and BEE Award Recipients
Published on: December 17, 2025
Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is proud to announce its DAISY and BEE Award recipients for October 2025. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® honors exceptional nursing staff, while the BEE Award recognizes other outstanding team members who demonstrate excellence every day, both at the hospital and in outpatient clinics.
Kimberly Fleming, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), received the October DAISY Award. Her nomination, submitted by a fellow caregiver in Samaritan’s Outpatient Behavioral Health clinic, reads in part:
“I have witnessed Kim’s ability to engage even the most vulnerable patients. During a phone conversation with a shared patient, she actively listened, without judgment, conveying compassion and care without coercion, or frustration. Her dedication, empathy, and advocacy make a lasting difference in the lives of patients and colleagues alike.”
The DAISY Award is an international award, backed by The DAISY Foundation. As a DAISY Award honoree, Fleming received a certificate of recognition, a DAISY Award pin, and the “A Healer’s Touch” sculpture—hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. A larger version of the sculpture has been installed in Samaritan’s Healing Gardens to honor all current and future DAISY and BEE Award winners, funded by the Samaritan Auxiliary.
Nichole Provost, Talent Acquisition Assistant for Human Resources, was nominated for the October BEE Award by a Nurse Manager who said:
“Nichole has helped guide me through the hiring process, reviewing and approving compensation rates, and understanding position control—every step of the way. What stands out the most is the grace and patience she’s shown throughout. Nichole is not only a tremendous asset to the Human Resources department but to the entire organization. Her dedication, professionalism, and willingness to support others reflect the best of what we stand for.”
Provost received a certificate, a BEE Award pin, and a gift bag with tokens of appreciation.
These awards are presented year-round, and patients, families, and colleagues are encouraged to submit nominations at any time. To make a nomination or learn more about the DAISY and BEE Awards, visit samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.
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Pictured here are Samaritan’s October 2025 DAISY Award recipient, Kimberly Fleming, LPN, (left), and October 2025 BEE Award recipient, Nichole Provost (right).
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.