DAISY Award

August 15, 2024

DAISY Award spotlight: “Hayleigh Murphy has a giant heart and is a fantastic nurse.”

Hayleigh Murphy, RN 2 CC, works on the 10 North Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Vanderbilt University Hospital. She is one of the latest DAISY Award winners at VUMC.

Hayleigh Murphy, RN 2 CC. (photo by Donn Jones)

Hayleigh Murphy, RN 2 CC, works on the 10 North Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Vanderbilt University Hospital. She is one of the latest DAISY Award winners at VUMC.

From the nomination

“The news was given …  that his brain damage was extensive, and he would not recover. We were shocked and devastated to say the least. His nurse in the ICU that day was Hayleigh. She was able to care for him a few times during his stay. She is an angel on earth in our eyes. … We saw firsthand that Hayleigh Murphy has a giant heart and is a fantastic nurse. We will be forever grateful that she was his nurse on that day. … She is a professional in every way and a class act. VUMC is lucky to have her on their team.”

About DAISY Awards

The DAISY Award is a recognition for extraordinary nurses who exemplify compassion toward patients and families.

VUMC distributes the award in partnership with The DAISY Foundation, which was formed in 1999 to honor the memory of J. Patrick Barnes, a 33-year-old man who died of complications of the autoimmune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). Barnes’ family was moved by the care they received from his nurses and wanted to recognize them to preserve his memory. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.

VUMC nurse committees determine the individual recipients. Previous recipients of the DAISY Award are here. The award is open to all licensed nurses, and anyone can nominate — including co-workers, patients and their families. Nominations may be made here.