Wessington Springs woman and a student at Mount Marty University (MMU), Sara Cashman, was honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Student during the Nursing Pinning Ceremony held May 5, 2023. The award was part of The DAISY Foundation’s mission to express gratitude to nurses with programs that recognize them for the extraordinary, compassionate and skillful care they provide to patients and families. Also recognized were Dr. Heather Swanson, faculty and Heidi Gehrke, preceptor.
“Recognizing and celebrating nursing students for the aboveand- beyond care and compassion they show to patients and their families will be a strong reminder that nursing is not all about tasks and technology,” said Bonnie Barnes, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation.
Cashman is a family nurse practitioner student. Her faculty, preceptors and peers have worked with her in various capacities throughout her time at MMU and report that she exemplifies the type of person and provider who would be chosen as their healthcare provider and would be recommended to others.
Nursing Faculty, Preceptors and Students may be nominated by colleagues, peers, patients, family or alumni. The award recipients are chosen by a committee at Mount Marty University to receive The DAISY Award which will be given annually at the Pinning Ceremony. Each honoree receives a certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called a Healer’s touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.
Additional comments from Cashman’s nomination include: She is professional as well as being kind and personable. She has exhibited sincere care for others whether it be classmates, faculty, coworkers, and/or clinical staff at her clinical sites. Sara provides excellent care, and encourages others to be better in their roles. She demonstrates the Mount Marty core values, demonstrates Benedictine values in all interactions, and is the type of nurse you want on your team. She persevered during difficult times while in school but kept forging ahead, always putting the needs of others first.
“It is with great pleasure that we developed a partnership with The DAISY Foundation to recognize faculty, preceptors and students for the extraordinary work that they do,” Dr. Carol Stewart, MMU Nursing faculty and MMU DAISY Program Coordinator.