2 South Clinical Leader receives DAISY Award

Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Department of Nursing recently honored 2 South Clinical Leader (and Interim Nurse Director) Kerry Parsons, BSN, RN-BC, with a DAISY Award. 

Parsons was nominated by Director of Inpatient Psychology and Training Christopher AhnAllen, PhD, for the impact she has made on the unit in just one year on staff.

In his nomination letter, Dr. AhnAllen wrote:

Kerry Parsons is an exceptional clinical nurse leader on the 2 South inpatient psychiatry unit. Within the past year of her joining our team, she has exuded compassionate care for the most vulnerable and underserved patients within the BWFH system in psychiatry. Kerry is well known to all, in such a short period of time from joining us, as being a clinical nurse leader who exemplifies all of the characteristics of a DAISY nurse. For example, Kerry is known by staff and patients alike to be the “go-to” person who has (or will find out!) all the answers to questions about clinical care, environmental issues, dietary requests/needs and any way possible to make the patient’s experience recovery-oriented and their care experience on the unit a satisfying one. This is not an easy feat on an inpatient psychiatric unit! She also developed and led a fundraising/volunteer effort for a local shelter as well as coordinated a clothing drive for a local shelter including resources for our own 2 South patients who need winter coats. She has been known to go out of her way (and in addition to her role in the hospital) to procure personal items for patients when they need them too! She is disciplined in her role, assists other staff in their own organization and leads with poise and clarity. She is a trusted member of our community and has become a mentor to junior nursing staff and nursing students who are interested in their own paths within nursing leadership. Kerry is an asset to BWFH and our psychiatric inpatients are very, very lucky to have her in this role.

Parsons was presented with her DAISY Award by members of nursing leadership, members of the Nursing Professional Recognition and Advancement Committee and her co-workers. Of the recognition, she says, “It is an honor and a privilege to be recognized in this way. Many times, I do not feel like I am working because I love this work so much. I strive to provide the care my patients deserve and work towards helping as many people as I can on a daily basis. My patients deserve a lot of credit for helping me become the nurse I am today, their strength and resilience inspires me to be better, help more people and be a source of positivity in such a difficult world. I truly believe kindness is a cure and I do my best to live by that.”

The DAISY Award, established by the DAISY Foundation, is named in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at the age of 33 from Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), an auto-immune disease. The Barnes Family was inspired by the care that Patrick received and established this unique program to recognize and thank the nurses nationwide who make a profound difference in the lives of their patients and families. 

To learn more about the DAISY Foundation, visit daisyfoundation.org.

BWFH DAISY nurses consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinarily compassionate care. They are recognized as outstanding role models in our nursing community and make a profound difference in the lives of their patients and their family members. Patients, visitors, nurses, physicians and employees may nominate a deserving nurse by completing a nomination online.