St. Tammany Health System’s first Daisy is a doozy.
Two weeks after the health system officially introduced the Daisy Award recognition program for nurses, STHS Chief Nursing Officer Kerry Milton – a 40-year employee of STHS – received a special Lifetime Achievement Daisy Award in a surprise ceremony on Tuesday (March 22).
It was the first Daisy Award issued at STHS.
“I can’t say enough about how it feels to be recognized,” Milton said upon being surprised with her award in the elevator lobby of the new South Tower. “It’s hard to say you love every single minute of your job, but I do – and I thank every one of you for this recognition.”
Among those STHS colleagues gathered to share in the moment was a litany of Milton’s fellow nurses, all of whom were clearly pleased with the honor.
The Daisy Award program is an international recognition program through which colleagues or patients can honor and celebrate the skillful, compassionate care provided by nurses.
The special Lifetime Achievement Daisy Award is reserved for those nurses who have 25 or more years of service and are recognized by the nursing community as a transformational nursing leader, role model, mentor and patient advocate.
“I appreciate the opportunity to express gratitude to Kerry for being an inspiration to nurses at all stages of their career and to recognize her commitment to the compassionate care of patients for four decades,” STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman said in presenting Milton with the award. “Kerry was recently quoted as follows: ‘I can’t say enough about this team. Any success I’ve had is thanks to them.’ She is a true servant leader who has and will continue to encourage and lead St. Tammany Health System’s nursing team into the future.”