MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) – Avera Queen of Peace Hospital is pleased to announce that Mary Doyle, RN is the most recent recipient of its 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 Queen of Peace facilities are eligible to receive the DAISY Award.
“Winning the DAISY Award is humbling,” Doyle said. “Being nominated by a patient for listening and advocacy is especially meaningful, yet I know these qualities are demonstrated every day by the coworkers I am fortunate to work alongside. I’m part of an exceptional team that consistently provides compassionate, patient-centered care. This award feels less like an individual achievement and more like a reflection of the culture of teamwork and empathy we create for our patients.”
Doyle’s journey into nursing was inspired by both family and firsthand experience. Although her mother was a nurse and later a nursing instructor, she did not initially plan to follow the same path. After high school, while working as a staff assistant, she was inspired by the nurses she worked with and decided to return to college to pursue a nursing degree.
Her career with Avera Queen of Peace began in 1989 as a staff assistant on the Surgical and Pediatrics units. After graduating from Dakota Wesleyan University, she worked on the Maternal Care Unit before transitioning to full-time clinic nursing. She is currently the Avera OB GYN Clinic nurse supervisor.
“My approach to care is grounded in empathy, active listening and patient education,” she said. “I work closely with providers to ensure patients and their families understand their care, feel supported and are able to communicate effectively with their care team.”
Receiving the DAISY Award reaffirmed what has guided her throughout her career: that compassion matters. “This experience reinforced for me that small moments of presence and compassion can have a meaningful impact on a patient’s experience.”
She was nominated by a patient for her compassion, advocacy and presence during an appointment. The patient stated that Mary demonstrated exceptional nursing care by addressing both medical and emotional needs. Through listening, calm support, and clear communication with the provider, she helped ease the patient’s mind and ensured their concerns were fully addressed. Her kindness, professionalism and genuine human connection left a lasting impression and exemplified DAISY recognition.
A committee of 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/5357.