Healing Hands & the DAISY Foundation
At Healing Hands, nurses are at the heart of everything we do. Their compassion, skill and quiet strength inspire our designs, and our purpose. That’s why we’re proud to support the DAISY Foundation, an organization dedicated to recognizing the extraordinary care nurses bring to patients and families every day.
Through this partnership, we celebrate nurses who go above and beyond while supporting programs that uplift the nursing profession as a whole.
Why We Support the DAISY Foundation
The DAISY Foundation was founded in 1999 by the Barnes family in memory of Patrick Barnes, who passed away from complications of an autoimmune disease. During his hospitalization, Patrick’s family witnessed firsthand the profound difference nurses made through their clinical expertise, advocacy and compassion. The foundation was created to honor that kind of care—and the nurses who provide it every day.
Healing Hands supports the DAISY Foundation because its mission is rooted in real patient experiences and profound gratitude. By partnering with DAISY, we help ensure that nurses are recognized not only for what they do, but for how they show up for patients and families during some of life’s most difficult moments.
How the DAISY Foundation Honors Nurses
The DAISY Foundation partners with hospitals and healthcare organizations to administer award programs that recognize extraordinary nursing care. Nurses are nominated through heartfelt written submissions from patients, family members or colleagues describing specific moments when a nurse made a meaningful difference.
Each participating organization thoughtfully reviews nominations and selects honorees based on DAISY criteria, which focuses on compassionate, patient-centered care and professional excellence. Award recipients are formally recognized within their workplaces and connected to a broader community of DAISY-honored nurses.
DAISY Foundation FAQs
What’s the difference between a DAISY nominee and a DAISY honoree?
A DAISY nominee is a nurse who has been nominated by a patient, family member or colleague through a submitted DAISY nomination.
A DAISY honoree is a nurse who has been selected by their healthcare organization to receive a DAISY Award. The terms “honoree” and “DAISY Award recipient” refer to the same recognition.
How do nurses get a DAISY Award?
Nurses are considered for DAISY Awards through nominations submitted by patients, families or colleagues. Each participating healthcare organization follows a review process to select recipients based on the DAISY criteria.
How do you nominate someone for a DAISY Award?
Nominations can be submitted through participating healthcare organizations or directly through the DAISY Foundation’s official website, depending on the facility. Most hospitals provide nomination forms online or on-site.
What is the Healing Hands Grant?
Healing Hands proudly supports the Healing Hands Grant, a DAISY Foundation–affiliated initiative that provides funding specifically for DAISY Award–recognized nurses. These grants are available only to nurses who have been honored through a DAISY Award program.
Grant funding is intended to support continued professional development, education and well-being initiatives that help DAISY-recognized nurses grow in their practice and sustain the meaningful work they do every day.
Apply here for the Healing Hands grant.
How often are DAISY Awards given?
DAISY Awards are typically given throughout the year, with frequency determined by each participating healthcare organization.
How many nurses receive the DAISY Award each year?
Thousands of nurses are honored annually across participating hospitals and healthcare organizations worldwide.
Where can I find DAISY Award winners?
You can explore stories and recognized nurses through the DAISY Foundation’s official website, as well as through participating hospitals that share honoree announcements.
Know a nurse whose compassion made a lasting impact? Honor their care by submitting a DAISY nomination through the official DAISY Foundation site.
NOMINATE A NURSE