Beaufort Memorial Awards First DAISY Nursing Leadership Honor
December 23, 2025
Beaufort Memorial recognized a key leader at the organization with its first DAISY Nurse Leader Award, honoring Denise Lindsey, MSN, RN, CNOR, NE-BC, Director of Perioperative Services, for her exceptional leadership and commitment to high quality care.
With the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the DAISY Foundation honors nurses who demonstrate excellence in not only their clinical skills, but their compassion, too.
The DAISY Nurse Leader Award celebrates nursing leaders who may not provide direct patient care daily, but who play a critical role in creating an environment where nurses can deliver the high-quality, compassionate care that positively impacts patients and their families.
Excellence in Leadership
“Nurse leaders are often not eligible for the traditional DAISY Award, but they are essential to fostering a workplace where compassionate care thrives,” said Katie Howell, MSN, RN, Beaufort Memorial nurse liaison, during the ceremony on Dec. 17. “They create the conditions that allow nurses to deliver the quality care that DAISY celebrates.”
The leader-focused award recognizes nurse managers, directors, assistant managers, charge nurses, chief nursing officers and other nursing leaders within healthcare organizations.
The DAISY Foundation notes that nursing leaders shoulder unique responsibilities that are a little different from those of direct care nurses, including:
- Providing a safe physical and emotional environment for all staff
- Ensuring quality care standards are met
- Securing access to essential technology, medical equipment and resources
- Managing human and financial resources, including staffing and supplies
- Promoting team development, resilience and competency, while ensuring staff are meaningfully recognized
- Cultivating a culture where compassion, respect and patient-centered care are prioritized
A Leader Who Makes an Impact
Denise’s leadership has been recognized previously; in 2024, she received Beaufort Memorial’s “Bemmy” Award for “Leader of the Year,” and was also nominated for the 2025 Palmetto Gold Nursing Award, a prestigious, statewide honor recognizing excellence in nursing.
Her leadership is especially critical as Beaufort Memorial undergoes its three-year Surgical Pavilion renovation project, which kicked off in July 2024. The project includes renovations to the surgery waiting area, the addition of two state-of-the-art surgical suites and expanded pre- and post-operative care areas designed to improve patient flow and care efficiency.
A Nomination Rooted in Impact and Compassion
Denise was nominated in the fall by a coworker who highlighted the profound impact she has had across the organization, from colleagues to patients.
“Throughout my time working under her guidance, I have consistently witnessed her thoughtfulness, fairness and deep respect for every member of the team,” wrote Priscilla Caprio, BSN, RN. “She leads with insight and compassion, creating an environment where staff feel valued, supported and empowered to perform their best.”
Priscilla also applauded Denise’s professionalism, commitment to listening and dedication to the Beaufort Memorial mission.
“Working under her leadership has been a positive and motivating experience,” Priscilla said. “I believe that leaders like her make a lasting difference.”
An Emotional Milestone
This recognition marks the first DAISY Nurse Leader Award presented at Beaufort Memorial. DAISY Awards for direct care nurses continue to be presented throughout the year across all areas of the organization, from the Cochrane Heart Center to the Infusion Center to the ER to the hospital’s inpatient units.
Karen Carroll, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Beaufort Memorial Chief Nursing Officer, explained that the award’s daisy symbol represents the compassion, heart and purity that lives at the core of the nursing profession.
During the emotional ceremony, members of the surgical and OR teams gathered to celebrate their leader.
“I feel very overwhelmed,” Denise said. “The impact of this award is massive to me. A coworker took time out of her busy schedule to write the nomination, and so many staff members came to celebrate. ‘Overwhelming’ is the word that keeps coming to mind.”
About the DAISY Award
Developed in 1999 by a Seattle couple to honor the nurses who took care of their dying son, the DAISY Award has since been adopted by healthcare facilities all over the world.
Nominated nurses’ clinical skills, and especially their compassionate care, exemplify the kind of nurse that patients, their families and our staff recognize as an outstanding role model.
Anyone can nominate a Beaufort Memorial nurse for the prestigious honor. Applications are available throughout the hospital and at BeaufortMemorial.org/DAISY.