Evaluation of the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem) Award for recognising excellence in nursing

Abstract

Background: With increasing demand for nursing services worldwide, the onus is on healthcare systems to implement measures to improve retention. The DAISY Award was designed to celebrate nursing with the suggestion that it may improve staff retention. Aim: To describe the experience and impact of winning the DAISY Award. Method: Data were collected through virtual semistructured interviews from award winners (n=4), nominees (n=4) and nominators (n=4). An analytical framework was developed to allow the responses of the three groups to be compared. Findings: Four major themes emerged from the responses: awareness of the DAISY Award; the nomination process, the impact on retention and winner benefits. Conclusion: Being nominated or winning a DAISY Award had a positive impact on nurses' feelings towards their role. This was a small evaluation in a single organisation, so the value of adopting the DAISY Award for recognising nurses' contributions to patient care merits further investigation, especially with regards to its effects on retention.