Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital recently recognized Connie Jarvis, a registered nurse, with the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses, which is given in appreciation of the work nurses do.

Jarvis was nominated by several patients who said she was a source of comfort, strength and encouragement during difficult times. One family notes of Jarvis, “I cannot stress enough the impact Connie had on our hospital experience. Her professionalism was perfection as she intricately and thoroughly provided our loved one with care as if one of her own family.”

Regularly, Cabrini Hospital’s nursing administrators accept nominations and select a nurse to receive the Daisy Award. At a presentation in front of the nurse’s colleagues and physicians, the honoree receives a certificate and a sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.

Lane Harrington, Chief Nursing Executive, says of Jarvis, “It’s the professionalism and compassion of nurses like Connie that speak to the heart of who we are as an organization. Yes we are here to treat people medically, but we are so much more than that. It’s the inner faith, sincerity and ability to empathize with what our patients and their families are facing that make our mission truly come alive daily. It’s an honor for me personally, to be surrounded by that high level of quality nurses.”

The not-for-profit Daisy Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, California and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, an auto-immune disease. The care Barnes and his family received from nurses while he was ill led to the creation of the Daisy Award.