DAIS Y Award Winners

DAISY Nurse Leader Lucy Torres, MSN, PMH-BC, Nurse Manager, Adult Mental Health Unit, Bridgeton

“When Lucy became manager of the Adult Mental Health Unit, our unit was in turmoil. Lucy created a positive work environment with an open-door policy. She encouraged staff to work at our differences and become a more cohesive unit. She promotes the positive image of mental health nursing within Inspira. She encourages nurses and staff to engage in IHN councils to promote a more positive attitude towards mental health. Our unit is so well run now that we have completed several research projects (IRB approved) and have won the Betty Neuman and Research Council award twice! Lucy cares for her staff and encourages us to go above and beyond, creating a better work environment for nurses and staff. Lucy’s leadership has led to positive staff and patient outcomes. She leads by example and encourages staff to do the same. We now have a Zen Den, coffee bar, belongings bins, daily huddles, birthday recognitions, holiday events, and we give back to the community such as the M25 initiative where staff moved a mental health patient into a new apartment and donated houseware items. We participated in delivering Thanksgiving dinner to the elderly, Out of the Darkness Walk, Macy’s closet (donated clothes for our patients), and we have a daily prize cart to encourage group participation. The list goes on!” -

Coworker

Minh Thu Cole, R.N., Surgical Acute, Vineland

“Minh Thu always goes above and beyond for all of her patients. She has shown multiple acts of kindness. There is never a shift where she is not a team player and strong patient advocate. She not only assists with her patients but with their family members. For example, a patient's family member could not afford lunch. She offered them money and paid for their lunch so they could eat with their family member. This act of kindness was unprompted. She showed this family that there are still good people left in this world. She treats everyone as if they are her own family. Her empathetic, compassionate, and knowledgeable care always provides a welcoming and safe environment to all the patients that she takes care of. She truly is the definition of a Daisy Nurse.” - Coworker