Waterbury Hospital honors three nurses and transport associate with DAISY and BEE awards

Waterbury, Conn. Jan. 20, 2025 – Waterbury Hospital has honored three nurses from the ED, medical and GI units with the Daisy Award for extraordinary nurses. Also honored is a patient transport associate with the BEE Award, given to healthcare professionals, including non-clinical staff for going above and beyond for patients.

Congratulations to DAISY Award Winners:

Kathryn Feeney, RN

Kathryn is a nurse in the GI Department, where most patients come in for procedures often facing the unknown. Feeney received multiple Daisy nominations from different patients describing her as ‘wonderful nurse,’ ‘knowledgeable,’ ‘reassuring,’ ‘compassionate’ ‘informative.’

“I am so grateful to have her as my nurse. Today was my first time seeing her. She is a patient, soft spoken person, explaining everything I have to know about the procedure,” wrote one patient.

“She made me feel confident and comforted,” wrote another patient. 

Evergreen Laylo, RN

When the patient that nominated Laylo for the Daisy Award was brought up to her room on Pomeroy 5, she was welcomed with great kindness, which set her on the path to recovery.

“She was so sweet and compassionate. I was overwhelmed with comfort and peace,” wrote the patient.

Jalyssa Howell, RN

During a busy ER shift, nurse Jalyssa Howell stood out to one family for her caring and attention to detail.

Jalyssa “was extraordinary, balancing her work while remaining, calm, professional compassionate, and the care was amazing,” wrote the patient who nominated her for the Daisy Award.

About the Daisy Award

Nurses every day go above and beyond to not only provide patients and families with excellence in clinical care but also compassion. The DAISY Foundation, honors them by showing profound gratitude for all that they do. The DAISY Award is a recognition program to celebrate and recognize nurses by collecting nominations from patients, families, and co-workers. It is run by our partners as a way to thank nurses for the care and kindness they provide. The Daisy Award was established in 1999 by the family of Patrick Barnes, a patient who dies from complications from an auto-immune disease. The award honors extraordinary nurses.

Congratulations to BEE Award Winner:

Norma Cruz

Patient Transport Colleague Norma Cruz knows that her job is to care for patients and it shows. The ED patient who nominated Cruz for the BEE (Being Exceptional Everyday) Award said she was nervous when she met Cruz. Realizing this, Cruz started speaking comforting words to the patient.

“The words that she did say meant so, so much, and made my night,” wrote the patient who nominated her.

The BEE Award honors healthcare professionals including non-nursing staff who provide compassionate care and go above and beyond their normal duties by demonstrating teamwork, communication skills, compassion, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence.

About Waterbury HEALTH

Waterbury HEALTH, which includes Waterbury Hospital, Alliance Medical Group, Cardiology Associates of Greater Waterbury, VNA Health at Home and Access Rehab Centers, Greater Waterbury Imaging Center, offers comprehensive healthcare services including primary care, emergency and acute care, and home healthcare. Serving Waterbury and eleven surrounding communities in Western Connecticut, Waterbury HEALTH is a member of Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc., a national family of hospitals and healthcare networks. For more information about Waterbury HEALTH visit: https://www.wtbyhealth.org/.