Celebrating Excellence in Nursing: Derrick Grooms, RN, Honored with The DAISY Award

We’re proud to announce that Derrick Grooms, 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.

His nomination came from a fellow nurse who shared a powerful personal story:

“I work with Derrick and he always has a pleasant helpful attitude and never hesitates to help any coworker in need. He is very kind and compassionate to the patients. I actually requested he take care of me when I had surgery a few weeks ago. I came out of surgery having some distress and couldn’t breathe or swallow. He immediately jumped into action to relieve my distress. It was very comforting, and the rest of my recovery went well due to his excellent care. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

As a DAISY Award honoree, Derrick was celebrated in a special ceremony within his unit. He 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

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