Gina Duggan has earned the admiration of the students she serves as a youth health centre co-ordinator at Sackville High School, the teachers and staff at the school and her colleagues in Public Health. So it is fitting that Gina is the first public health nurse in Canada to be recognized with the DAISY Award for exceptional nurses.

The DAISY Award is an international nursing award program offered in partnership with the DAISY Foundation, which created the awards program to recognize nurses who weave excellence in clinical expertise with human compassion and empathy.

One of the teachers at Sackville High shares, “Gina leads 100 per cent with her heart. She keeps her feet on the ground and shows unconditional positive regard for our health and well-being. She is a role model to everybody at our school.”

The students with whom Gina works speak to the impact she’s had on their lives. “I don’t know what I would have done without you. You believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself,” shares one student. Another says, “You have a big heart and such an open mind. You have touched many hearts, including mine. You’re like a mother bird. You take us under your wing when we need you.” Yet another student says, “Congratulations on being an extraordinary nurse. Congratulations on being an extraordinary human being.”

Gina insists that anything she gives is outweighed by the rewards of the job. To the students of the Youth Health Centre, she says: “For every minute thing I’ve given you, I’ve gotten it back 10-fold.”

Congratulations, Gina, on this well deserved recognition. We’re proud that you’re part of the Capital Health team.

Nomination Summary

Edna is a clinical expert in Endoscopy who is client focused. She always goes the extra mile to accommodate the needs of patients, especially in emergent situations. She will rearrange a whole unit if needed, to fit in an Emergency, for the sake of the patient. She is compassionate and caring to all her patients. She is committed to continuous quality improvements to ensure patients receive the best care. She has been a leader in Endoscopy and has been instrumental in spear heading the use of Nurse Led Discharges, Patient Satisfaction Survey, and patient teaching materials specific to Endoscopy.

She is a certified GI Nurse. This exemplifies her commitment to continuous personal and professional development. She is always respectful in her communication with patients with sensitivity to the diverse cultural needs of our client population. She is a role model who has a wonderful sense of humour!

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Nomination Summary

Janis has been working with families living in difficult life circumstances for the past seven years. She is empathetic regarding their life challenges and empowers them by helping them utilize their strengths. She has demonstrated such qualities as enthusiasm, non-judgmental approach, and empathy with her clients on a one-one basis as well as in group settings. A co-worker said she easily “puts herself in the clients’ shoes” and that this trait results in the development of strong relationships with her clients and community partners. Her co-workers also describe her understanding and caring to them also enhancing the team’s capacity to serve the community. Janis always goes the “extra mile” to ensure her clients receive the best possible service.

Her manager describes her as being successful in taking on many challenges in her role especially in facilitating provincial training for her colleagues and that she has demonstrated leadership and passion in Public Health.

Janis is a good listener and is always willing to lend a helping hand. With those qualities, she is a natural leader who is respected and admired by her clients, community partners and co-workers. Janis is a deserving recipient of the Daisy Award for various reasons… the main one being her ability to demonstrate a high level of caring for the families she serves.

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