The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
May 8, 2025 (Beloit, Kansas) – Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems participates in The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses ®. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.
We are proud to announce that our MCHHS DAISY Award Honoree is Kasha Alcorn. Her nomination stated, “I was working in the ER and we had every bay full. One of our patients was very sick, covered in wounds, and was in need of significant care. It was shift change and I called to the floor to see if anyone was willing to stay late and help me bathe and clean this patient. There were no willing takers. However, Kasha was the charge nurse on the floor and stated she would stay and help me care for this patient after she gave report. It was a process, where both her and I got soaked in water, but we gave this patient a full shower and tended to all their wounds. Kasha was so caring with the patient and kept her calm by talking to her while I dressed her wounds. She also asked if the patient was craving anything to eat and the patient stated she would like a hamburger. She sent her husband to go get the patient a hamburger, and ended up staying 3 hours after her shift to help me give the best care we could to this patient. It was very much above and beyond and so appreciated.” Moments like this truly highlight what an extraordinary nurse Kasha is.
We would also like to recognize the other nurses nominated for The DAISY award during this period. Nominees were Chasity Richards, RN; Tina Carr, RN; Stephanie Otte, RN; Deborah Cook, RN; Carrie Baetz, RN; Brette Stanton, RN; and Ashley Goddard, RN.
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. 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. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) 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.
Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at MCHHS to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are presented twice a year at celebrations attended by the Honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors. Each Honoree receives a certificate commending her or him as an "Extraordinary Nurse." The certificate reads: "In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people." Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.
Said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, 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, extraordinary, compassionate work they do. The kind of work the nurses at MCHHS are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
“We are incredibly proud to recognize Kasha with the DAISY Award,” states Nicki Cleveland, CNO. “She consistently goes above and beyond to provide compassionate, high-quality care, and this award is a well-deserved reflection of the impact she has on patients, families, and our entire care team.
This is one initiative of The DAISY Foundation to express gratitude to the nursing profession. Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing, and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.