I am pleased to nominate Joan Jamison, Nursing supervisor, for the DAISY Award based on her clinical leadership in the care of patients on this unit. Our Inpatient Director, Ann Taylor-Trujillo had contact with a father of a very sick woman who had her first psychiatric breakdown and spent 2 weeks on this unit. The father knew Ann because he had worked for her in another State Hospital many years ago. Ann asked the family member how we were doing and if the nursing care was what he expected it to be. The two of them had been trained on patient-centered care and that was the focus of their conversation. The family member stated that he was very impressed with the care that his daughter was receiving and that the staff were caring, empathic, patient and using all the skills that he would expect to try to assist his daughter with recovery. He felt very confident that his daughter was receiving the best care that she could get. This care was family centered care at its best.

Joan has always been an advocate for the patient and makes sure that care has this focus. Joan's staff have great respect for her as a nurse, leader and advocate. She is also respected by her peers and the leadership Team at UNMH. Joan role models excellence by her presence on the unit and involvement in care frequently. She sets the pace for excellence in practice and she is also there to make sure it takes place. This is an excellent example of psychiatric nursing care as it should be offered and many staff were observed performing this care. Leadership matters and Joan Jamison owns her unit and makes sure that every patient is cared for based on excellence in service, quality, patient satisfaction and empathy.