Denise Savage-Desai, APRN-BC, works in the Student Health Center. She is one of the latest DAISY Award winners at VUMC.
From the nomination
“I saw Denise after a sexual assault … She provided kind and sensitive trauma-informed clinical care and did all she could to give me back some measure of control over the situation. … When she had to refer me to a specialist, she went out of her way to make sure I got an appointment as soon as possible. Her questions were thoughtful and showed she cared about me as a person and not just another task on her to-do list.”
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.
