We’re proud to recognize Alyssa Harmon, RN, a compassionate and dedicated nurse at Morristown-Hamblen has been honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. This prestigious recognition celebrates nurses who consistently go above and beyond in delivering exceptional care to patients and their families.

The DAISY Award was established in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who passed away from complications of an autoimmune disease. During his hospital stay, Patrick’s family was deeply moved by the extraordinary care and compassion shown by his nurses. In his memory, they created the DAISY Foundation to recognize nurses who make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

A Powerful Nomination Story

Alyssa’s nomination was inspired by a heartfelt phone call the team received from the patient’s daughter.

Below is the powerful story shared by a team member:

“On Christmas Day, our ER cared for a patient who was later transferred to another facility and has since passed away. Later that week, the patient’s daughter reached out — not with a complaint, and not with a question, but simply to express heartfelt gratitude. She became emotional as she described how deeply our team supported her family during one of the hardest days of their lives.

She spoke at length about the extraordinary compassion shown by the nurse caring for her father. Even while managing multiple critical patients and constant demands, the nurse created a sense of calm and safety for the family. The daughter shared that the nurse never let any stress show. Instead, she reassured her father with comforting words and a steady, kind presence.

Alyssa treated the patient with dignity in every moment. She protected his sense of comfort and never allowed him to feel embarrassed. She stayed steady when he was in distress, attentive to his needs, and tender with his family. The patient’s daughter said, through tears, that Alyssa made an unbearable day easier and that she ‘can’t begin to say enough good things’ about the care they received.

She also expressed sincere appreciation for Dr. Plummer, describing him as kind, gentle, and wonderfully compassionate.

What stood out most was this:
The daughter didn’t call to talk about her father’s illness — she called because of how our team made them feel.

In the midst of chaos, grief, and uncertainty, our team created moments of comfort, dignity, and humanity. Those moments mattered. They stayed with her, and they will stay with her forever.”

She spoke at length about the extraordinary compassion shown by the nurse caring for her father. Even while managing multiple critical patients and constant demands, the nurse created a sense of calm and safety for the family. The daughter shared that the nurse never let any stress show. Instead, she reassured her father with comforting words and a steady, kind presence.

Alyssa treated the patient with dignity in every moment. She protected his sense of comfort and never allowed him to feel embarrassed. She stayed steady when he was in distress, attentive to his needs, and tender with his family. The patient’s daughter said, through tears, that Alyssa made an unbearable day easier and that she “can’t begin to say enough good things” about the care they received.

She also expressed sincere appreciation for Dr. Plummer, describing him as kind, gentle, and wonderfully compassionate.

What stood out most was this:

The daughter didn’t call to talk about her father’s illness.
She called because of how our team made them feel.

In the midst of chaos, grief, and uncertainty, our team created moments of comfort, dignity, and humanity. Those moments mattered. They stayed with her, and they will stay with her forever.”

Honoring Alyssa

As a DAISY Award honoree, Alyssa was celebrated in a special ceremony within her unit.  She received:

• A certificate of recognition
• A DAISY Award pin
• A hand-carved stone sculpture titled “A Healer’s Touch”, created by artists in Zimbabwe to symbolize the profound impact nurses have on their patients

About the DAISY Award

The DAISY Award is part of an international nurse recognition program that honors the compassion, skill, and dedication nurses bring to their work every day. Nurses can be nominated by patients, families, coworkers, and physicians.

If you’ve experienced extraordinary care from a nurse, we encourage you to share your story. To submit a nomination or learn more about the DAISY Award, visit the Morristown-Hamblen DAISY Award page