Nurses from American University of Beirut Medical Center and Children's National Hospital will receive awards at the IHI Patient Safety Congress 2024

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and The DAISY Foundation today announced the recipients of the 10^th annual DAISY Award^® for Extraordinary Nurses in Patient Safety. The individual recipient is Dima Afra, RN, from American University of Beirut Medical Center – the first nurse outside the US to receive the individual honor. The team award goes to the Nurse Navigator Program from Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC.

Presented in collaboration with IHI, the DAISY Awards will be bestowed at the IHI Patient Safety Congress 2024, which will take place May 14-16 in Orlando, Florida. This annual event brings together health care professionals from around the world who shape ​​smarter, safer care for patients wherever it’s provided – from the hospital to outpatient settings to the home.​ Registration is open and the full agenda can be viewed here.

Each year, The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in Patient Safety celebrates nurses and clinical teams for their commitment to patient and workforce safety in the delivery of compassionate care for patients and families. More than 6,500 health care facilities and nursing schools across the US and in 40 countries participate in this annual award program. Nearly 20,000 nurses and nurse-led teams, first honored within their own organizations, were eligible for this year’s award.

“Over the last 10 years, thousands of incredibly deserving candidates have been nominated for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in Patient Safety, and this year’s honorees continue that tradition,” said Patricia McGaffigan, RN, MS, CPPS, IHI Vice President and President, Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety. “All of us at IHI and The DAISY Foundation commend the awardees for being caring and compassionate nurses, and stewards of patient and workforce safety.”

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in Patient Safety is supported by a generous grant from Baxter, a global provider of clinical technology and patient safety solutions.

Individual Award

Dima Afra, RN – American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

As a bedside nurse in a surgical unit, Ms. Afra has observed many aspects of patient care that she felt could be improved to enhance the patient experience. She has embarked on numerous evidence-based improvement projects to transform protocols and practices to improve outcomes and make care safer in her unit and throughout the hospital, with marked reductions in pneumonia and central line infections. Known as “the nurse with the calming voice,” Ms. Afra exemplifies compassionate care. Her smile and way of treating others are an inspiration to her peers and colleagues.

“Dima is a pioneer in delivering safe, high-quality patient care,” said Hisham Bawadi, MSN, e-MBA, Director of Nursing, American University of Beirut Medical Center. “She is caring and compassionate, actively listening to her patients, advocating for their needs, and accommodating the plan of care to meet those needs. Dima is the backbone of the floor and is considered a resource to her colleagues. Her dedication, commitment, and passion have led to positive changes in patient care that have had a major impact throughout our institution.”

Ms. Afra’s commitment to patient safety extends beyond her unit. As the chairperson of the Medical Surgical Clinical and Professional Advancement Council (CPAC), she initiated clinical peer-review rounds, where council RNs conduct clinical rounds on their peers from other units to ensure safe care and knowledge sharing. This initiative has fostered a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement among the staff of the medical surgical units and empowered the council nurses to identify clinical gaps and rectify them instantly.

Team Award

Nurse Navigator Program – Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

The Nurse Navigator team at Children’s National Hospital is a beacon of support for pediatric patients and families, embodying the organization’s core values of compassion, commitment, and connection. They provide a crucial service to ease the family’s burdens. The team streamlines communication and care processes across the spectrum of care, fostering a lasting connection with patients and families. Since it was created in 2012, the Nurse Navigator team has positively impacted safety, outcomes, and patient experience and in 2023 supported more than 700 children and families. They dedicate themselves to understanding a patient's unique needs to support continuity, coordination, and a feeling of psychological safety, and bridge identified care and communication gaps to eliminate barriers and ensure a positive patient experience.

“Our Nurse Navigators demonstrate a commitment to patient and workplace safety through communication and coordination to support a holistic approach to care delivery,” said Catherine Williams, DNP, MS, RN, NE-BC, Executive Director Central Nursing Operations, Children’s National Hospital. “They serve as a single point of contact to streamline communication, facilitate care, educate families, and offer emotional support to ease their stress. Our Nurse Navigator team serves as a model for institutions striving to provide the highest standard of care.”

The Nurse Navigator team's impact in supporting the provision of the highest quality of care for patients and families is well known and appreciated across the organization. Through their supportive and collaborative engagement, Nurse Navigators are seen as critical members of the care team by patients, families, and providers.

IHI’s Turn on the Lights Podcast recently featured leaders from The DAISY Foundation discussing the critical role nurses play in health care and how to properly recognize them. Bonnie Barnes and Deb Zimmermann explained how The DAISY Award honors nurses through patient and family nominations, recognizing their compassionate care, validating their career paths, and serving as a morale booster – which is crucial for combating nursing shortages and fatigue. They underscored that acknowledging nurses' kindness and compassion is vital for creating a healthier work environment and strengthening the bond between clinicians, patients, and communities. Tune in to hear the full episode, “Building a Culture of Appreciation for the Nursing Community.”

About the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is an independent not-for-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. For more than 30 years, IHI has used improvement science to advance and sustain better outcomes in health and health systems across the world. IHI brings awareness of safety and quality to millions, catalyzes learning and the systematic improvement of care, develops solutions to previously intractable challenges, and mobilizes health systems, communities, regions, and nations to reduce harm and deaths. IHI collaborates with a growing community to spark bold, inventive ways to improve the health of individuals and populations. IHI generates optimism, harvests fresh ideas, and supports anyone, anywhere who wants to profoundly change health and health care for the better. Learn more at ihi.org.

About The DAISY Foundation

The DAISY Foundation was created in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of an auto-immune disease (hence the name, an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) Patrick received extraordinary care from his nurses, and his family felt compelled to express their profound gratitude for the compassion and skill nurses bring to patients and families every day. The DAISY Award celebrates nurses in over 6,500 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing around the world. For more information about The DAISY Award and the Foundation’s other recognition of nurses, faculty, and students, visit http://www.daisyfoundation.org/.

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