Kalie Heaton, a registered nurse who provides care as part of St. Mary’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) team, has received St. Mary’s systemwide DAISY Award for Nursing Excellence.
Heaton is a resident of Lavonia who joined St. Mary’s in May of 2023. She was nominated by one of her ICU patients. “Kalie is a true professional,” the patient wrote. “She makes sure every detail in your care is looked after. She is awesome!”
The patient went on to praise her for more than her professionalism.
“She made me feel she was interested in my situation,” the patient wrote. “Kalie made the time for small talk that helped alleviate the feeling of being isolated. Whenever I rang, she was in my room in seconds. Sometimes it’s the little things someone does for you that make the difference. Kalie has the ability to do just that.”
“We are extremely proud of Kalie and all of our DAISY Award recipients,” said Ann Gomes, St. Mary’s DAISY Award Committee coordinator and director of orthopedics at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens. “This award demonstrates the vital role nurses play not only as care providers at the bedside, but with families and colleagues as well. Congratulations, Kalie!”
About the DAISY Award
The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that celebrates the skillful and compassionate care nurses provide day-in and day-out. It was created in gratitude for the nurses who provided care to Patrick Barnes, a 33-year-old husband and father who lost his fight against a deadly autoimmune disease in 1999. His family created the DAISY Foundation, which now partners with more than 5,000 hospitals and schools in all 50 states and around the world to honor and inspire extraordinary nurses. Learn more about the DAISY Award at https://www.daisyfoundation.org/.
At St. Mary's, each DAISY Award recipient is recognized at a public ceremony with their colleagues. They receive a certificate, a DAISY Award pin, and a stone sculpture entitled "A Healer's Touch" that is hand-carved by sculptors in Zimbabwe. In addition, they and their colleagues are invited to celebrate the occasion with cinnamon rolls, a treat Patrick would request – even though he couldn’t eat them – as a thank-you to the nurses caring for him.
Anyone can nominate a St. Mary's nurse for the DAISY Award, including patients, patients' family members, providers, and colleagues. Any nurse in the St. Mary's system is eligible, including those at all three hospitals as well as home health care/hospice services and medical group offices. The nomination simply asks you to share your story of why a nurse is special to you. St. Mary's honors eight nurses each year.
There are two ways you can nominate a St. Mary's nurse for the DAISY Award:
