Published: November 21, 2025
Five Nurses Receive DAISY Award at Avita Health System
BUCYRUS / GALION / ONTARIO – Five registered nurses at Avita Health System have been honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®. The award is part of The DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize nurses for the extraordinary, compassionate care they provide patients and families every day.
The 2025 DAISY Award recipients are Janice Allen, RN of Bucyrus Hospital, Patricia Hook, RN of Bucyrus Hospital, Anna Smith, RN of Galion Hospital, Carrie Cross, RN of Galion Hospital, and Bill Signoracci, RN of Ontario Hospital.
Janice Allen works in the Medical Surgical Unit at Bucyrus Hospital. She was nominated by an emergency department nurse for going above and beyond while the department was busy and experiencing a pediatric trauma event at the same time. According to the nominator, “Janice helped to keep this department flowing by helping to triage other pediatric trauma patients and rendering care to all the other ED patients waiting, which helped to free up ED nurses to provide care to the critical patient in that moment. Janice went well beyond the call of duty this day and the entire ED is grateful.”
Patricia Hook was nominated by one of the patients she provided care for in the ICU. The nominator highlighted the person-focused care she received. “I cannot stress enough how much she helped me get through all my sickness and panic attacks. She would sit and talk to me and calm me down. She treated me like I was her own mother at times when I thought I wouldn’t make it. She took the time to care and talk to me. I cannot thank her enough!”
Anna Smith was nominated by a fellow employee for the extraordinary, compassionate care she provided to a family dealing with the loss of their baby in the Maternity Unit at Galion Hospital. The nominator shared, “Anna showed the kind of empathy, professionalism, and quiet strength that defines the very best in nursing. She provided not only expert clinical care, but also heartfelt emotional support to grieving parents who were navigating unimaginable sorrow. She anticipated their needs, offered gentle reassurance, and created a space that honored their grief and their baby’s memory. She treated their baby with profound dignity and respect. Her presence was calming, her words were thoughtful, and her actions spoke volumes about the power of compassionate nursing. Nurses like Anna remind us that compassion is as essential as clinical skill. Her care went far beyond her duties and was deeply human, deeply kind, and deeply healing. She is a true DAISY nurse.”
Carrie Cross works in the Maternity Unit at Galion Hospital. She was nominated by a patient for the care provided while she was delivering her baby. The nominator shared that her baby’s umbilical cord prolapsed, so an emergency c-section needed to be performed. “Carrie jumped into bed with me and held the umbilical cord and the baby’s head all the way to the OR. I was terrified, hysterical, and uncertain if my baby would be okay. I kept looking at her and she assured me that she could feel his pulse in his cord. She assured me of this every 30 seconds to try to keep me calm. She remained calm as well. As they were preparing me for surgery, I was even more scared. There were so many people and due to the emergent need to deliver the baby it felt chaotic. I remember talking to Carrie until the moment they started the anesthesia, and I went to sleep. She was the one who brought the baby to my husband after he was delivered. Carrie will be a nurse that I will always remember. I truly believe that she was a crucial part of saving my son’s life.”
Bill Signoracci was nominated by a visitor that witnessed the care he provided to an elderly, homeless patient in the Emergency Department at Ontario Hospital. According to the nominator, “As a friend of the patient and retired ED nurse, I observed nursing care and personal caring from Bill towards the patient. He was so happy and cheerful. He is the nurse of the year and the one I want taking care of me. I was impressed at his frequent patient checks and wanting to attend to visitors’ needs as well. Thank you for your deep compassionate care. Your cheerfulness during care was very appreciated by the patient, who has gotten used to being treated otherwise or ignored by public and caregivers.”
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System). The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families.
“The DAISY Foundation DAISY Award is our highest honor for nurses who provide extraordinary care and these five nurses are very deserving,” said Kathy Durflinger, Chief Nursing Officer, Avita Health System.
Nurses at Avita Health System may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues by filling out a form online at avitahealth.org/daisy-award or at one of their three hospital locations. The award recipients are anonymously chosen by a committee of Avita employees and community members. There is specific criteria and scoring for each nomination. Awards are presented twice annually at celebrations attended by the honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors.
At the award ceremonies, Janice, Patricia, Anna, Carrie, and Bill each received a certificate commending them for extraordinary nursing. Each honoree was pinned with a special DAISY Award Pin and presented with a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.