FORT WAYNE, Ind. – April 2, 2026 – Seven Parkview Health nurses were recognized this winter by The DAISY Foundation for extraordinary nursing.
The DAISY Foundation was founded in memory of Patrick Barnes, a 33-year-old man who spent eight weeks in a hospital being treated for an autoimmune disorder. During his stay, Barnes received excellent nursing care, and, in his memory, his family created The DAISY Award® to honor nurses who go above and beyond for their patients.
Recognized in 40 countries and territories, the Foundation has honored 220,000+ nurses across 6,500+ healthcare organizations and schools of nursing — with more than 2.5 million nominations submitted by patients, families and colleagues. The award not only recognizes nurses for exceptional care, but helps to inspire and engage co-workers, build team spirit and reinforce the importance of providing patient and family-centered care.
Between Jan. 1 and March 31, the following seven nurses received DAISY awards. For their individual award stories and photos, follow the below links to The DAISY Foundation website:
- Cayla Adams, labor and delivery, Parkview Hospital Randallia
- Emily Altom, progressive critical care, Parkview Regional Medical Center
- Kristan Conrad, OR/SAU, Parkview Noble Hospital
- Ryah Eckel, med/surg, Parkview Kosciusko Hospital
- John Gitau, progressive critical care, Parkview Regional Medical Center
- Richard Harmon, ICU, Parkview Bryan Hospital
- Alexis O’Connor, med/surg, Parkview Regional Medical Center
“I was so surprised to receive the DAISY award,” Eckel said. “All of the things that my patient mentioned, such as advocacy, listening and educating are all an important part of the job, so I felt like I was just doing my job, a job I love!”
“It brings me so much joy knowing I can help make these hard times a little better for these patients,” said O’Connor. “Whether it's providing medications, emotional support in vulnerable moments, connecting with real life experiences on a personal level or anything else they may need, I know I am helping make these moments into a more positive experience for these patients and their families.”
In total, 117 Parkview nurses have been honored with a DAISY award since 2021.
“The stories our patients tell in their nominations of our DAISY nurses are always inspirational,” said Juli Johnson, chief nursing and healthcare markets executive, Parkview Health. “Our DAISY nurses serve as great examples of care that is professional and compassionate. Our nurses don’t just take care of patients; they truly care about their patients, too.”
For more information about The DAISY Award, visit daisyfoundation.org.
For a listing of nursing jobs at Parkview available throughout northern Indiana and northwest Ohio, visit https://www.parkview.com/careers.
