DAISY Award Winner Recognized at Holzer Health System

Candace Bartrum, RN, was recently honored with The DAISY Award®. The award is part of The DAISY Foundation and Holzer’s initiative to recognize the above and beyond efforts nurses perform every day.

A recent Holzer patient submitted the nomination, stating, “I have never seen a nurse with such a big, caring heart. Candace showed a genuine concern for my wellbeing. She went above and beyond to make my stay as comfortable as possible. I am a type 1 diabetic, and I love coffee. She noticed this and brought me sugar free coffee one day. I was very touched by her act of kindness. She made me feel like I wasn't alone. She answered every question I had and educated me at every turn. By the end of my stay, I felt like I had another family member.”

DAISY stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem. The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation, based in Glen Ellen, CA, was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. 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. 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.

Said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provided patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Holzer are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

Nominations for The DAISY Award can be submitted by patients, patients’ family members, peers, and providers. The award honors LPNs and RNs across every division of care in the Holzer system, including acute/hospital, post-acute/long-term care, and ambulatory/outpatient. Nomination forms can be found throughout all Holzer facilities and online at www.holzer.org/DAISY-award. The nominations are verified before being shared with the Holzer DAISY committee to evaluate and score the applicants each month. In nominating an individual, a specific example or scenario of the nurse going above and beyond for a patient is required on the nomination form.

“The DAISY Award program shines a light on all the right,” shared Susan Rowe, RN, MSN, CENP, C-EFM, CLS, Vice President, Nursing Services, Holzer Health System. “Through this program, we are able to meaningfully recognize the extraordinary contributions of nurses, and their efforts to create and sustain healthy work environments."

After receiving her degree in Medical/Clinical Assisting from Huntington Junior College, Candace began her Holzer career in March 2012 as a State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) at Holzer Senior Care. In 2018, she received her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) degree from Collins Career Technical Center and began working as an LPN at Holzer Assisted Living in Gallipolis. In 2023, she received her Registered Nurse (RN) degree from the University of Rio Grande and now works at Holzer in the 2 West Medical Surgery Unit in Gallipolis. Additionally, Candace received her bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Rio Grande.

Candace has five children and one grandchild and currently resides in Gallipolis, Ohio, with her husband. In her spare time, Candace enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

When asked about working for Holzer, Candace replied, “I am proud to be part of the Holzer family, which is synonymous with education and togetherness. I know that if my family came to Holzer for care, they would be treated with the utmost respect and professionalism. Our staff genuinely cares about their patients and wants to know them as people.”

When asked about receiving the award, Candace responded, “It was a surprise. Nursing can be frustrating, but it’s worthwhile. Winning an award of this sort is further reinforcement that nurses make a remarkable difference every day. There are many elements that we cannot control, but we have an abundance of power that provides warmth and comfort. I am honored to receive this prestigious award; it’s truly an honor to serve my community.”