Author: Sarah Barber
"As my primary nurse, Alexis was very informative, sensitive and patient. She was professional in every way."
McLaren Greater Lansing nurse Alexis Falcon was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the exceptional care nurses provide every day.
The nomination, submitted by one of Alexis’s patients, read as follows: “As my primary nurse, Alexis was very informative, sensitive and patient. She was professional in every way. While commending Alexis, I cannot understate the care and respect that was given to me by nurse assistant, Kendra. She treated my wife and me in a way that any patient would be envious of. Thank you.”
Falcon was rewarded by hospital leadership and co-workers and received a certificate commending her for being an “Extraordinary Nurse,” as well as a sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona people in Zimbabwe.
“There are so many nurses who are deserving of this award, and it really means a lot to me that I received it,” Falcon said.
About the DAISY Award
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation, based in Glen Ellen, California, was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon autoimmune disease. The care Barnes 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 patients and their families.
“When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced firsthand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” said Bonnie Barnes, president and co-founder of the DAISY Foundation. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the superhuman work they do. The kind of work the nurses at McLaren Greater Lansing are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of the DAISY Award.”