WHAT ’ S HAPPENING in Local Chapters and State Associations
By Valerie Ross , 2023-2024 Imprint Happenings Reporter
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
The Southwest Wisconsin Technical College school chapter held a t-shirt drive to raise funds for the DAISY Award . Karissa Alexander was selected as the honoree to receive the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students . She was nominated multiple times for the DAISY award by family , friends , co-workers , faculty , volunteers , and nursing colleagues .
Karissa ’ s immense heart for caregiving is evident in her actions , always going above and beyond to make a difference and embodying the qualities of a compassionate and highly motivated individual . Her positive attitude and radiant smile remain steadfast even in the most challenging situations , consistently brightening lives while providing quality care with an exemplary attitude . Karissa ’ s support extends beyond residents to her colleagues , offering kindness and assistance even in the face of adversity . Her dedication to nursing is evident in her commitment to perfecting her craft and applying her knowledge in clinical settings . She excels in therapeutic communication , especially in difficult situations like comforting parents in the ICU . Her patience and empathy shine when working with dementia and rehab patients , effectively multitasking and addressing their needs . She is eager to help and embrace new opportunities , making a meaningful difference in the lives of many .
Karissa was awarded a serpentine stone sculpture , hand-carved by artists of the Shone Tribe in Zimbabwe . The sculpture is especially meaningful to the tribe because of the profound respect the Shona people pay their traditional healers . The Shone Tribe feels the sculpture properly symbolizes the relationship between a nurse and their patient and refers to it as the Healer ’ s Touch .
The DAISY Award is a recognition program created to celebrate and recognize nurses by collecting nominations from patients , co-workers , and families . The acronym DAISY stands for Disease Attacking the Immune System , and the foundation was formed by the family of J . Patrick Barnes , who died at the age of 33 due to complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura ( ITP ) in 1999 . The family was touched by the compassionate care of the nurses who cared for Patrick and developed the DAISY Award Foundation to honor and celebrate direct care nurses , nursing students , and nursing faculty .
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