National Call to Action for Nurse Faculty Recognition

October 2021 (Anacortes, WA) – With the number of nurse educators in shorty supply, recognition of extraordinary nursing faculty continues to be more important than ever.  The DAISY Foundation™ in partnership with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the National League for Nursing (NLN), the Organization of Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) and joining this year, Sigma, are once again issuing a call to action for schools of nursing to recognize and celebrate their nursing faculty as role models in compassionate nursing practice.  Now is the time to continue to raise awareness for this important recognition.  Since the initial call to action in 2018, 247 additional campus locations have implemented The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Faculty to honor their nursing faculty. That represents a 44% increase in the last three years!

The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a light on faculty who have seen the opportunity to contribute in a positive way, despite the many challenges faced.   Nursing faculty have demonstrated their commitment to nursing education, as they converted courses from brick-and-mortar delivery to online learning opportunities in record time and used their ingenuity to provide clinical experiences in simulated environments during these past months.  Working with their institutions, they ensured the psychological safety as well as the physical safety of their students, making themselves available to their students long after the workday was complete.  Recognition and celebration of these national treasures and their ongoing dedication to their work will help to retain faculty and encourage them in their mission to educate and create the best nursing workforce for years to come.  These heroes are integral to the next generation of nurses and to the nursing profession at large.  Their valuable contributions must be recognized in an ongoing and meaningful way.  The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Faculty provides that opportunity.  

Capturing stories of gratitude for them, whether from students, colleagues, clinical staff, patients, or others who witness the impact of their actions, is important.  These stories provide a valuable way to express gratitude to them while inspiring others.  More importantly, the stories of such faculty articulate and elevate actions that are valued as representing the nursing profession at its best.  The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Faculty provides the means for these stories to be honored, shared, and preserved; and for the honoree, to be a part of DAISY’s international community of outstanding nurses.   For more information, examples, and next steps on honoring your nursing faculty: https://www.daisyfoundation.org/faculty-award-information.

About The Daisy Foundation 
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family.  Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.)  The care Patrick and his family received from Nurses while he was ill inspired the creation of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.  In over 4,900 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing, The DAISY Award is an evidenced-based means of providing Nurse recognition and thanking Nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of those they touch through their care, no matter the setting.  

About AACN
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is the national voice for academic nursing. AACN works to establish quality standards for nursing education; assists schools in implementing those standards; influences the nursing profession to improve health care; and promotes public support for professional nursing education, research, and practice. As the collective voice for academic nursing, the mission of AACN is to serve as the catalyst for excellence and innovation in nursing education, research, and practice. 

About the NLN
Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers professional development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 45,000 individual and 1,100 institutional members, comprising nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and health care organizations. 

About OADN
The Organization of Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) is the national voice and a pivotal resource for community college nursing education and the associate degree pathway.  OADN’s vision is to expand networks that promote leadership, collaboration, and advocacy to further enrich nursing education and the communities we serve.  OADN ensures the Associate Degree Nursing remains a pathway for a diverse spectrum of students, enriching the profession, and meeting the health care needs of patients, families, and communities. OADN welcomes partnerships and collaboration to support academic progression in nursing, leadership, and improvements in healthcare practice and delivery. 

About Sigma 
In 1922, six nurses founded Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, today known as Sigma. The founders chose the name from the Greek words storgé, tharsos, and timé, meaning love, courage, and honor. The mission of Sigma is to develop nurse leaders anywhere to improve healthcare everywhere with a vision of connected, empowered nurse leaders transforming global healthcare. From its inception, Sigma has recognized the value of scholarship and excellence in nursing practice. In 1936, Sigma became the first US organization to fund nursing research. Today, Sigma supports these values through its numerous professional development products and services that focus on the core areas of education, leadership, career development, evidence-based nursing, research, and scholarship. These products and services advance the learning and professional development of members and all nurses who strive to improve the health of the world's people.