McLaren Greater Lansing nurse Bret Tingay 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 a coworker, read as follows: “Bret is a team player and always brings positivity to the workplace. He collaborates well with other departments and staff to ensure patients get the care they need. He gets great feedback from patients and their families that he provided extraordinary care. Bret always provides patients excellent care even in the most challenging situations.”
Tingay was recognized by hospital leadership and coworkers, and he received a certificate commending him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse,” and a sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona people in Zimbabwe.
Tingay is a U.S. Navy veteran and started his career as a hospital corpsman assigned to the United States Marine Corps Charlie Company during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. This year, he celebrates 36 years working at McLaren.
While being presented with the award, Tingay reflected on this recognition stating the importance of the teamwork he has found at McLaren.
“Being able to provide the care I strive for my patients wouldn’t be possible without the wonderful people I work with,” said Tingay. “I appreciate this recognition; it means a lot to me.”
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.”