2026 DAISY Award Ceremony

5-7-26 (Lake Village, AR) – Anna Jasay Dobbs, RN and Shawna Hawkins, RN of Chicot Memorial Medical Center were recently honored with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses and The DAISY Team Leader Award, respectively. The awards are part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day. 

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses nomination submitted for Anna Jasay Dobbs, RN read “I want to start this out by saying, this is big town care in a small town environment! We couldn’t have been more pleased with our stay and the care received in this hospital! My mother fell and broke her hip and was admitted to swing bed for therapy. During her stay she voiced to Anna how scared she was to shower, not just because of her injury but because she didn’t necessarily want other people seeing her at her most vulnerable. Anna took her time to sit down with my mother, address all of her concerns and made special accommodations to ensure that she felt safe and comfortable to shower. No matter how busy the shift, they would shower my mother every time they worked together, my mom used to say “Sure can’t wait to see my girls, they’ll be back soon!” We expected medical care being that it is a hospital, but we didn’t expect the companionship that was provided! That extra time spent made my mother feel her best during a vulnerable time!! That is what has made this stay so precious! The compassion and patience were next level! We are truly thankful for making my mother’s stay so meaningful and for giving her the tools she needs to independently thrive at home, but we are especially thankful for Anna, who truly took her time and provided extraordinary and compassionate care!”

The DAISY Team Leader Award nomination submitted for Shawna Hawkins, RN read “I would like to nominate Shawna for the DAISY Award! She is the true definition of an extraordinary nurse! She goes above and beyond for not only her patients but her coworkers! She is a strong advocate for the patients and always speaks up when necessary, ensuring their voices are heard. She is not just a talented nurse; she is the true embodiment of compassionate care. I have watched her ensure patients are turned every 2 hours, whether they are her patients or not. She has answered many questions with patience and professionalism, explaining complex medical information to patients and well as their family members in a way they can understand! Provided extra comfort measures to a distressed patient and helped to calm the family in the process. Beyond her patient care, Shawna is an extraordinary coworker. You don’t find many like her that is so willing to go above and beyond to ensure a smooth shift! No matter how crazy the shift may be, she’s constantly checking in on her coworkers to ensure they are not drowning and is always willing to lend a helping hand no matter how much already falls on her plate as a shift supervisor! Her unwavering dedication and exceptional compassion make them truly deserving of the DAISY Award.”

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes.  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.  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. 

Said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do.  The kind of work the nurses at Chicot Memorial Medical Center are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

For a complete listing of healthcare organizations currently running the program, please go to http://DAISYfoundation.org

In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 4,600 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of direct care Nurses, Nurse-led Teams, Nurse Leaders, Nurses Advancing Health Equity,
Nursing Faculty, Nursing Students, Lifetime Achievement in Nursing and through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, Medical Mission Grants their new Health Equity Grant program. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.