Fort Wayne, IND. – July 17, 2025 – Seven Parkview nurses were recognized this spring 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 Foundation 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 also helps inspire and engage co-workers, build team spirit and reinforce the importance of providing patient and family-centered care.
Between April 1 and June 30, the following seven nurses received DAISY awards. For their individual award stories and photos, follow the links below to The DAISY Foundation website:
- Wes Arter, ER, Parkview Huntington Hospital
- Kandy Gay, ER, Parkview Whitley Hospital
- Kaci Kuhn, progressive critical care, Parkview Hospital Randallia
- Lyndsia Kunkler, surgical, Parkview Regional Medical Center
- Emily McIlwain, med/surg, Parkview Kosciusko Hospital
- Jennifer Moore, med/surg, Parkview Regional Medical Center
- Alicia Rickenberg, ICU, Parkview Bryan Hospital
“I have been a nurse for 41 years and couldn't have been more surprised and humbled,” Gay said. “Initially, all I could do was cry. The beautiful note the family wrote and the picture their daughter drew for me is something I will cherish in my heart forever.”
“It felt really good to hear from the patient and family that they thought I was someone who came in and did my best and made them feel seen and heard without being rushed into decisions,” said Rickenberg. “Having a patient remember me and be appreciative of the care I provided meant a lot to me and gave me a renewed sense of gratitude for my choice of career.”
In total, 94 Parkview nurses have been honored with a DAISY award since 2021.
“Congratulations to another group of amazing nurses who have made a big impact in their patients’ lives,” said Juli Johnson, chief nursing and healthcare markets executive, Parkview Health. “Our nurses work one-on-one with our patients every day, and the compassion, caring and understanding they demonstrate are the cornerstones of great care. The relationships and rapport they build with their patients, whether for a few hours or many days, can last a lifetime.”
For more information about The DAISY Award, visit daisyfoundation.org.