VINCENNES, Ind. - 2020 was declared the International Year of the Nurse in recognition of the contributions they make.

The World Health Organization designation took on a whole new meaning when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Nurses play a vital role in health services. They devote their lives to caring for others, giving lifesaving vaccines, meeting everyday essential needs, and being a crucial link between the community and the healthcare system.

Vincennes University and Vincennes University Jasper are proud to announce a partnership that will honor nursing faculty and nursing students at the campuses with The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty and The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students.

The awards are part of The DAISY Foundation's mission to express gratitude to nurses with programs that recognize them for the extraordinary, compassionate, and skillful care they provide patients and families. 

The DAISY Foundation expanded its flagship brand The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses to academic institutions in order to recognize the faculty who inspire compassionate care in their students and the students who demonstrate it during their education.

"We honor faculty who inspire nurses to care like Patrick's nurses cared for him and for our family. Recognizing and celebrating nursing students for the above-and-beyond care and compassion they show to patients and their families will be a strong reminder that nursing is not all about tasks and technology,” said Bonnie Barnes, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation. 

Nursing faculty and nursing students may be nominated by colleagues, peers, patients, families, or alumni. Recipients are chosen by a committee within the Vincennes University Nursing Department and the College of Health Sciences and Human Performance to receive The DAISY Award. The awards will be presented at the end-of-the-year Pinning celebrations. 

Each honoree receives a certificate, a DAISY Award pin, and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. 

According to College of Health Sciences and Human Performance Dean Michelle Cummins, “The partnership with the DAISY Foundation reinforces and elevates Vincennes University and the Vincennes University Nursing Department’s commitment to graduating professional nurses who will provide patient-centered, compassionate, and extraordinary care to the communities they serve. The DAISY award will not only recognize these students but also the nursing faculty who are dedicated to preparing and instilling excellence in nursing practice to our nursing students. This award is nationally recognized as a reflection of nursing excellence and will reinforce Vincennes University’s commitment to our strategic partnerships as well."

Nurses are in high demand and VU offers associate and bachelor's degrees in Nursing. Learn more about VU's award-winning, hands-on College of Health Sciences and Human Performance programs: https://www.vinu.edu/college-of-health-sciences-and-human-performance/index.html

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