DAISY Award Winners

Recognizing Johns Hopkins Hospital nurses for skilled, compassionate care that goes far beyond the call of duty.

April 2021 | Latanya Johnson-Strong

Whatever the shift—day or night, weekend or weekday—extraordinary Johns Hopkins Hospital nurses are hard at work. Early one Saturday morning, colleagues gathered to surprise Latanya Johnson-Strong with the DAISY Award. Johnson-Strong, who was finishing an overnight shift in the hospital’s Meyer 6 unit, was celebrated for the compassionate, detailed care she consistently delivers. Her nomination came from a patient who wrote that her “maturity and soft presence has been an elixir” and “… she has always embodied a spirit of kindness and responsiveness to my needs, no matter the request.”

May 2021 | Janet Barnes

Janet Barnes of the Meyer 4 psychiatric inpatient unit was nominated by one of her long-stay patients, who credits the success of her treatment to Barnes’s ability to connect with her so genuinely. In the nomination letter, the patient praises Barnes’s empathy, humor, and intelligence as well as the sincerity of her words and actions. “I felt most comfortable reaching out to Janet whenever I wanted to feel heard and often left with not only sound advice, but a smile on my face as well.”

June 2021 | Eric Renteria

Eric Renteria, a night shift nurse on the Weinberg 4CD surgical oncology unit, was nominated by a patient and his wife who were grateful to be in his care during their nights on the unit. Outlining the details of his exemplary actions, they described Renteria’s consideration to avoid interruptions when possible; how he educated the patient about new medications in a way he could understand; and the relief Renteria provided when the patient was suffering from severe pain. “Eric was outstanding. … My wife and I knew we were in very capable hands and we both felt so relieved.”

Spring 2021 | Donatta Opiew

“When I think of an exemplary nurse, I imagine Donatta’s face. Her character is truly a testimony to her love and devotion for these patients that need her,” reads the nomination letter for Donatta Opiew of the Nelson 6 unit, who earned her second DAISY Award. Opiew was nominated by a colleague for consistently going above and beyond for those patients, doing the seemingly “little things” to bring them comfort and dignity. “The amount of strength that Donatta has is unmatched. … It’s not about getting the job done quickly or fast. She takes her time to ensure she gets the job done right.”

See more DAISY Award more winners or nominate an outstanding Johns Hopkins Nurse by emailing daisyward@jhmi.edu.