Inova Alexandria Hospital Nurse Awarded for Extraordinary Work
July 31, 2008
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Inova Alexandria Hospital will present its first DAISY Award
for Extraordinary Nurses to Cari Freeman, RN, who works in the hospital’s
medical oncology unit. Freeman was recognized for consistently nurturing cancer
patients and mentoring new nurses.
“Cari goes above and beyond in caring for
her patients,” said Joy Solomita, RN, chief nurse executive, Inova Alexandria
Hospital. “The DAISY Award program is one way for us to recognize dedicated
nurses who really make a difference in the lives of patients and their
families.”
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation, based in California, was established by
family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died in late 1999 at the
age of 33 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), an
auto-immune disease. The care Barnes and his family received from nurses while
he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses.
Nursing
administration select a DAISY Award winner each quarter based on nominations
from patients, family members and staff. The honoree receives a certificate
commending her or him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse” and a sculpture called
A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the African Shona
Tribe.
All
of the nurses in the honoree’s unit will also receive Cinnabon cinnamon rolls.
This tradition came about from Barnes’ time in the hospital. One day he asked
his family to bring him a cinnamon roll plus enough for all of the nurses on his
unit. Today, with the help of Cinnabon, The DAISY Foundation carries on this
tradition by serving cinnamon rolls to the nurses on the honoree’s
unit.
Inova
Alexandria Hospital is among nearly 200 hospitals and hospices nationally, and
one of only several hospitals in Virginia, committed to The DAISY Award program.
Since the program started in 2001 an estimated 2,000 nurses across the country
have received the award. For more information about The DAISY Foundation visit
www.daisyfoundation.org.
Inova Health System is a not-for-profit health care system based in
Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services,
including emergency and urgent care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental
health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary
board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the
diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and
research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families,
visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.
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Contact:
Che Parker
703-321-2559
Jeanne Mayer
703- 321-2918
Kimberly Gibbs
703-504-3438
