Fischer Recognized With Avera Sacred Heart Hospital DAISY Award

Avera Sacred Heart Hospital is pleased to announce that Denise Fischer, RN, is the most recent recipient of our quarterly nurse recognition program called the DAISY Award.

The DAISY Program honors and celebrates the skillful and compassionate care nurses provide every day. DAISY is an acronym for “Diseases Attacking the Immune System.” The DAISY Award has grown into a meaningful recognition program embraced by health care organizations around the world, including multiple Avera facilities.

Nurses at any Avera Sacred Heart facilities are eligible to receive the DAISY Award.

“I’m honored to hold the title of a registered nurse and have the privilege of providing services to those in my community,” Fischer said. “This award is a reflection of the values my parents have instilled in me, as well as the knowledge and education my fellow health care professionals have given me along the way.”

She has been a registered nurse at Avera Sacred Heart for four years. Fischer cared for patients in the Medical/Surgical Unit at the hospital until she took a position as a coordinated care nurse at Avera Medical Group Yankton in March 2023.

“I gained so much knowledge and experience from my time at the hospital and have been able to apply this to my current position working with patients in the community,” she said. “I have truly been so blessed to have such amazing coworkers and supervisors guiding me on my journey with being a nurse, and I have such gratitude for all of Avera.”

Heidi Gonzales is the patient who nominated Fischer for the award.

“I came into the hospital in a great deal of pain,” she said in the nomination letter. “Denise showed me so much compassion and gave me such excellent care that she … made this situation less painful, less traumatic and less exhausting.  All of your staff are amazing and have shown me so much compassion, honesty, support and kindness that I know my life will be changed from this experience. Thank you, Denise. You are the very definition of love and compassion.” 

Fischer described Gonzales as a true example of resilience, strength and perseverance.

“She is a beautiful soul inside and out that touched many of our hearts,” she said. “Throughout the patient’s experience in their illness, she managed to keep a positive attitude and smile on her face. I truly admire this patient and am so honored to have been able to work with her.”

Fischer thanked all of the patients who have entrusted their care to her.

“It’s a privilege and an honor to be able to take care of you and your loved ones,” she said. “Thank you also to all of the Avera employees and providers who have demonstrated patience and encouragement on my nursing journey. Without the compassion and kindness you all have shown me, I would not be where I am at in my nursing career.”

A committee of community members and Avera employees evaluates the DAISY Award nominations and selects a winner every quarter.

The DAISY Foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at age 33 in 1999 from complications of the auto-immune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). 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 their patients and patient families.

For more information, visit DaisyFoundation.org.

Anyone who has had a positive nursing care experience can nominate a deserving nurse for a DAISY award by filling out the online form at DAISYnomination.org/4381.