ROCKPORT — Pen Bay Medical Center nurses were recently honored with The Daisy Award For Extraordinary Nurses, a program of The Daisy Foundation to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. 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.

Julie Moser, RN, OCN was honored as Pen Bay's first DAISY Award recipient. Moser, a long-time employee since 1993, has worked in various Pen Bay departments including Medical/Surgical and Blood Disorder and Cancer Care Center. Moser is a certified oncology nurse, is active in the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), serves as president elect for the local ONS chapter and is editor of the Five Counties of Maine, Chapter Newsletter. She is highly respected by peers, physicians and patients and is described as a leader in her department, a true team player and educator.

Connie Thyng, Cancer Care nurse manager, who proudly presented the award to Moser, noted "Julie Moser practices patient-centered care to the highest degree. She recently had two patients that required their chemotherapy to be started immediately (next day). She was instrumental in making this happen despite being short-staffed. There are many requirements needed before patient starts chemotherapy. From teaching, insurance, prior authorizations, prescriptions, etc. Moser accomplished all this with team effort and still did her patient assignment. She wears many hats within Cancer Care and the infusion center.

Pen Bay, her co-workers, patients and the community are lucky to have such a smart, dedicated nurse."

Moser’s selection was made by Pen Bay's Partners in Care Council Committee, a group of Midcoast community members, to receive The Daisy Award. At a presentation in front of colleagues, physicians, patients and visitors, Moser received a certificate commending her for being an "Extraordinary Nurse" that read: "In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people" plus a unique sculpture called A Healer's Touch, hand carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.

Other nurses nominated for The Daisy Award included Dianne Rahkonen, RN, Surgical Services; Tammy Bragg, RN, Radiology; Dawn Tassi, RN, OB/GYN; Lynn Tauss, RN, OB/ GYN; Donna Dancer, RN, OB/GYN; Diane Hynes, RN, Emergency Department and Sara Turner, RN, Med/Surg & Cardiology.

"We are proud to be among the hospitals participating in The Daisy Award program," says Paula Delahanty, VP, Nursing Services. "Nurses are heroes every day. It's important that our nurses know their work is highly valued and The Daisy Foundation provides a way for us to do that."

Said Bonnie Barnes, president 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 Pen Bay are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The Daisy Award.”

This is one initiative of many Daisy Foundation initiatives whose overall goal is to help fight diseases of the immune system. For more information, visit www.DAISYfoundation.org.

Have you had an exceptional patient experience? Nominate your nurse or caregiver at www.penbayhealthcare.org/recognition.