FORT IRWIN, Calif.  –   Weed Army Community Hospital recently honored five outstanding nurses with the nationally recognized DAISY Award, a prestigious accolade that celebrates extraordinary compassion and clinical excellence in nursing. The DAISY Foundation was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who passed away in 1999 due to an autoimmune disease. His family created the award to thank nurses for the care and kindness they extend to patients and families during some of life’s most vulnerable moments.
 
This year’s recipients — Twyla Butler, LPN; Cathy Bellard, LPN; Sheena Myers, RN; MAJ Victoria Jones, RN; and MAJ Ashley Draughon, RN — were nominated by patients, families, and colleagues who witnessed their dedication firsthand. Each honoree demonstrated the kind of empathy, clinical skill, and heart that define the best of Army Medicine.

To further the hospital’s mission of recognizing exceptional care, the command team has also launched a companion program called the Monarch Award. Named after the butterfly known for spreading life between blossoms, the Monarch Award honors non-clinical staff members — such as medical support personnel, administrators, and technicians — whose work behind the scenes makes a powerful difference in the patient experience.
 
“We believe in recognizing every hand that helps a patient heal — not just the ones that deliver medicine or dress wounds, but the ones that greet you at the front desk, clean the room, or file the paperwork,” said LTC Lisa Phillips, Deputy Commander for Nursing. “The Monarch Award is our way of saying that is takes a whole team to create a healing environment, and everyone matters.”
 
Nominations for both the DAISY and Monarch Awards are accepted year-round and reviewed by a committee of hospital staff and leaders. Recipients are celebrated publicly with a certificate, pin, and a special gift — including the DAISY Foundation’s signature “Healer’s Touch” sculpture for nurses.

For more information on nominating a deserving staff member for a DAISY Award visit https://www.daisynomination.org/2239

For more information on nominating a deserving staff member for a Monarch Award visit https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/ncSL2YwfsY