9-29-26 (DeFuniak Springs, FL) – Chelsea Gore, Practical Nursing student at Emerald Coast Technical College was recently honored with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Student 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 that “She has been my listening ear on the hard days, my cheerleader on the good days, and the person who celebrated my victories and milestone as if they were her own. She has helped build my confidence when self –doubt was louder than my own belief in myself. Sometimes, all I needed was someone to say, “You can do this,” and she was that person.”
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation 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, 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 student nurses at Emerald Coast Technical College are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
Said Chief Nursing Officer, Kristin Leonard, “Chelsea has exhibited a beautiful combination of compassion and clinical knowledge in the way she cares for others. She consistently presents herself with professionalism while showing genuine passion and commitment to the nursing profession. Her dedication and persistence throughout the program, along with her encouragement and support of her fellow nursing students reflect the qualities of an outstanding individual. Chelsea is a wonderful example of what it means to take flight and soar to new heights in her nursing journey. We are proud of her and look forward to the many lives she will touch.”
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 Student Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in thousands of healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition programs for nurses wherever they practice, in whatever role they serve, and throughout their careers – from nursing student through lifetime achievement, and through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, Medical Mission Grants and their Health Equity Grant program. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.