Jacqueline Domingue, RN of Northwestern Medical Center (NMC) was recently honored with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

The nomination submitted read:  “Over the years myself and my kids have been to NMC a few times, we have had many nurses but no one like Jacqui. Jacqui goes above and beyond for her patients, she not only does an amazing job at her job, but she also is ALWAYS kind and caring, not once has she ever not been kind. She always has a smile on her face and makes you feel at home which is huge especially when being in the ER is the scariest of times, Jackie makes you feel at ease and calms your nerves. She may not know us, but we want her to know we know her and she has had a big impact in our lives during the most difficult times. Thank you!”

The award was presented to Jacqui at an event on Wednesday, May 8, fittingly during NMC’s Nurses Week celebrations.

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 NMC are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

Interim Chief Nursing Officer Anneke Merritt said, “It was nice to launch NMC’s DAISY award program during Nurses week – a time when we recognize the extraordinary contributions of nurses.”

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.