​​​​​​​​​Awarding our nursing staff

Awarding and celebrating our nurses is a very important aspect of the culture at The Christ Hospital Health Network. To that end, we have several awards that can be given to RNs honoring them for exceptional work, lifesaving treatment, or for being an outstanding employee. Below is a list of those awards and instructions on how to nominate a staff member. 

The Daisy Award

The Christ Hospital DAISY Awards program recognizes extraordinary nurses. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, and the DAISY Foundation was formed in January 2000 by the family of Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 of complications from an immune disease. His family was so impressed by the nursing care he received during his illness that they were inspired to form the foundation. In addition to providing research and support to families of immune disease patients, the DAISY Foundation recognizes the super-human work of acute care nurses in hospitals around the country. Quarterly DAISY Nursing Leader and Educator Awards are also celebrated.

The Daisy winner receives:

  • A framed certificate proclaiming her/him an "Extraordinary Nurse" 

  • Special DAISY Award pin 

  • Hand-carved Shona sculpture entitled "The Healer's Touch" 

  • Cinnamon rolls for all nurses and staff in the recipients unit. 

Anyone may submit a nomination - including patients, their families, employees and physicians. 

Isabella Thoburn Circle of Excellence Award

The Isabella Thoburn Circle of Excellence Awards are the Network's highest honors and are presented to exemplary team members who have demonstrated distinguished achievements and consistently upheld The Christ Hospital Health Network's mission and vision. The awards will be presented by our President and CEO, Debbie Hayes, at the Circle of Excellence Awards Gala.

The Circle of Excellence Award Ceremony is an annual event that celebrates our team members' dedication and significant contribution to TCHHN's ongoing success. The ceremony will honor those team members who have reached milestone anniversaries of 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years. In addition, the finalists for our five Isabella Thoburn Circle of Excellence Awards will also be honored.

Award Categories

There are five nomination categories in the Isabella Thorburn Circle of Excellence Award program. All nominees must meet the eligibility criteria of completing one year of service with TCHHN and specific criteria within their nomination category.

  • Individual Contributor Award: This award is presented to the team member who best contributes to the TCHHN experience while also demonstrating team member excellence: strong evidence of outstanding character, energy, passion, and a positive impact on the business of TCHHN and the people they work with; individuals whose efforts are particularly inspiring, and who are especially purposeful and skillful in their actions. 

  • Leader Award: This award is presented to the team member who most consistently demonstrates a high level of commitment and dedication to their team members and the achievements of TCHHN’s mission, vision and critical success factors. This leader creates an environment that develops, empowers, engages, challenges, and inspires their staff and colleagues and creates a culture of inclusion and belonging. Requires one year of service as a team member manager.

  • Team Member Experience Award: This award is presented to the team member who best contributes to the TCHHN experience while also demonstrating the THRIVE Guiding principles: Teamwork, Honor, Respect, Integrity, Voice and Empathy.

  • Physician/APP Award: This award is presented to the physician or Advanced Practice Provider (APP) who best contributes to the TCHHN experience while also consistently demonstrating a high level of commitment and dedication to their team members, patients and the achievements of TCHHN’s mission, vision and values.​

  • Community Impact Award: This is a special recognition designed to honor TCHHN team members and providers who share Sam Hubbard's commitment to enhancing the Greater Cincinnati community, making it a better place to work, live and thrive. Nominations for this category are ​collected separately.

Selection Process

  1. A highly diverse, honest and courageous subcommittee will review nomination packets and select three finalists.

  2. The top three finalists for each award will be invited to the Circle of Excellence Award Ceremony, as well as the team member who submitted the successful nomination and a guest for the finalist.

  3. All finalists will receive a commemorative award and recognition at the ceremony.

  4. The final winners for each category will be announced at the ceremony.​


​LifeSaver Award

The Lifesaver of the Month program recognizes employees who demonstrate Target Zero "Safety Above All" by making it a priority to deliver high-quality patient care in a safe environment.

Any employee, volunteer, student, physician, patient or family member may submit a nomination form for the Lifesaver of the Month (co-worker, management team).

  • In good standing with no corrective action, written warning or higher 

  • Positive attitude towards job responsibilities 

  • Is a team player 

  • Is a role model for others

Preceptor Excellence Award

We appreciate the efforts and commitments of the many individuals who serve as preceptors within our organization.  The dedication and commitment of these individuals to our new nurses and nursing students provide immeasurable value to the growth of our profession.  We have created an award to honor nursing professionals who have shown exemplary service as a preceptor. Recognition of these preceptors enables them to serve as role model for other preceptors. 

The Preceptor Excellence Award gives TCHHN the opportunity to acknowledge outstanding commitments by preceptors to the education of our nurse new hires and students.

Basic Qualification:  To be eligible for nomination, an individual must have served in a Nurse Preceptor role at TCHHN at any point within the timeframe of 1/1/2023-3/31/2024. 

In addition, a candidate for the award should demonstrate certain characteristics or participate in activities such as:

  • A commitment to students or new hire nurses through activities such as effective clinical teaching, mentoring, evaluation, and feedback.

  • Extraordinary effort in his/her preceptor role.  Examples include: 

    • the development of creative teaching methods

    • feedback from preceptees

    • ​frequency of commitment/length of service

    • creating a unique learner-centered learning environment 

    • initiating department or organization collaborations benefiting student or new hires experiences especially those related to interprofessional care and practice

  • Continuous involvement and timely communication with the unit leadership (Professional Development Specialist, Nurse Manager or Assistant Nurse Manager) or academic program.

  • Demonstrated leadership qualities

  • Respected by peers 

  • Track record for instilling these qualities in their learners and positively influencing learners’ careers​​

Candidates may be nominated by staff, educators, unit leaders, health administrators, and/or students. 

​​Ryan Michelle Livingston Professional Award  

The Ryan Michelle Livingston Professional Award recognizes RNs throughout The Christ Hospital Health Network who exemplify the standards and quality of care that Ryan brought each day to her patients.

Ryan Michelle Livingston tragically lost her life in a motor vehicle crash in Sept. 2004. While she was only an RN for five years, Ryan was a role model as a true patient advocate, team member and competent, caring nurse. This award was established to honor her memory and the legacy she left behind. Any RN may nominate another RN. 

Nominee qualifications include:

  • Must be a registered nurse, minimum of three years 

  • Must always be in appropriate uniform and appear professional 

  • Must always act in a professional manner 

  • Must consistently provide high-quality patient care 

  • Must consistently strive to maintain high standards of care 

  • Must be a supportive team member 

  • Must be willing to learn new skills 

  • Must be willing to share knowledge/be a positive mentor 

  • Must demonstrate pursuit of excellence in practice

Please address the qualifications and cite specific examples of how the individual meets the defined criteria on the nomination form.

Spirit of Nursing Award

This award was created to recognize exemplary teamwork among our dedicated nursing staff. This award should be awarded to a nursing team, committee or unit of nurses who elevate the image of nursing. 

Nominators will be asked to provide one or more specific examples of the below as to why the nursing team being nominated qualifies for this award:

  • Service:  demonstrates excellence while working within the community to improve the health and lives of others.

  • Professionalism:  demonstrates excellence in the pursuit of nursing and elevates the image of nursing (e.g. professional advancement.)

  • Innovation:  demonstrates excellence by improving department efficiency, changing outcomes, boosting morale, improving hospital outcomes.

  • Role model:  goes above and beyond, is supportive to others, shows leadership skills and inspires others to be better.

  • Involvement:  is involved in their unit-based or house-wide committees/councils (e.g. task force or research committees, volunteers working together on a project.)

  • Teamwork: demonstrates collaboration with co-workers in their unit or through interdisciplinary means. This team works to help build positive relationships that are goal oriented.

The award will be presented quarterly with nomination submission deadlines of March 31, June 30, Sept. 30 and Dec. 31, annually. Nominations in the form of a professionally written essay may be submitted to spiritofnursing@thechristhospital.com. Please be sure to include the names of the individuals who participated in the team being nominated. ​