St. Mary's presents DAISY Award to 5th Floor nurse Nancy Floyd

Athens, Ga. - Nancy Floyd, a registered nurse on St. Mary’s 5th Floor Surgical Unit, has received St. Mary’s system-wide DAISY Award for nursing excellence.

“It’s not that there is one special story that stands out about Nancy,” said Ann Gomes, RN, Director of Orthopedics and DAISY Award Committee Chair, reading from one of Nancy’s three nominations. “It’s all the small, everyday things she does that make her so special.”

The nominations go on to say that Nancy is a seasoned nurse who provides exceptional patient care, mentors new nurses, assists whenever help is needed, is a great listener, is fair and accessible when serving as a charge nurse or scheduler, and uses her talents to lift the spirits of her colleagues.

"Nancy is so giving, and not just as a nurse," said Demita Bennett, Director, 5th Floor Surgical Unit and Center for Rehabilitative Medicine. "She loves to bake and is very creative as a cake decorator. She is a craftsperson and makes stylized name badges for the staff. The staff know they can go to her at any time for help. Fifth Surgical is fortunate to have Nancy as part of our team."

Nancy is a proud grandmother and a resident of Monroe.

The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide day-in and day-out. It is inspired by 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 some 4,800 hospitals and schools in all 50 states and 29 nations to honor and inspire extraordinary nurses.

At St. Mary's, each DAISY Award recipient is recognized at a COVID-safe 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 In Africa. In addition, they and their colleagues are invited to celebrate the occasion with cinnamon rolls, one of Patrick's favorite treats.

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. Nomination forms can be obtained by calling Melissa McDaniel at (706) 389-3890, ext. 3.

DAISY Award recipient Nancy Floyd, holding sculpture, poses for a photo with, from left to right, Titus Gambrell, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President; Demita Bennett, Director, 5th Floor Surgical Unit and Center for Rehabilitative Medicine, and Ann Gomes, Director of Orthopedics and DAISY Award Committee Chair.