Celebrating Excellence in Nursing: Katherine Lagunas, RN, Honored with The DAISY Award

We’re proud to announce that Katherine Lagunas, 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.

Katherine’s nomination came directly from a grateful patient, who shared:

“She meets all the requirements and goes above them. She always cares about the patient’s needs, wants, and tries to fulfill that. I hardly ever see her delegate to anyone. She always does this on her own with skill and integrity. I know there are probably not many daisies out there, but I feel like she should get one.”

As part of the celebration, Katherine was surprised with a tray of cinnamon rolls—a DAISY tradition that symbolizes comfort and gratitude. The sweet treat is a nod to the original gesture made by Patrick’s family, who brought cinnamon rolls to the nurses as a thank-you for their care.

As a DAISY Award honoree, Katherine was celebrated in a public 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

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