Franciscan Health honors exceptional nurse

Franciscan Health Olympia Fields recognized Anthony Perretta, RN, BSN, as its latest DAISY Award recipient. This national recognition is presented to registered nurses who make exceptional contributions to their hospital’s patients and team members.

A registered nurse in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit since 2020, Perretta started his nursing career at Olympia Fields upon graduation from nursing school, and has already been nominated for the DAISY award five times previously. He was recently nominated by the daughter of a Franciscan Health patient, who credited the Shorewood resident for exhibiting extreme compassion to her mother.

“Anthony made me feel so comforted. He explained mom’s situation. He was very knowledgeable about her different oxygen resources. I can tell he really cares for his patients,” she continued. “My mom is not easy, and he really was very kind and helpful to me and my mom. I wanted to let you know how professional and compassionate Anthony has been. My family really appreciates all of it! Thank you, Anthony.”

Franciscan Health salutes nurses like Anthony Perretta who deliver extraordinary, compassionate, and skillful care. As part of this recognition, he received a DAISY award pin, the Healer's Touch sculpture, a DAISY Award certificate, and a box of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls to share with coworkers. Funding for the DAISY Award is provided by the Franciscan Health Foundation.

About the DAISY Award

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is an internationally recognized honor that was established in 1999 via the DAISY Foundation members of the family of Patrick Barnes. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. Patrick Barnes was a 33-year-old husband and father of an infant daughter who died eight weeks after being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease idiopathic thrombocytopenia. The award was established to honor what his family perceived to be extraordinary kindness and compassion by the nurses caring for him during his illness. Cinnabon’s are given to the winners because when Patrick was too ill to have an appetite, at one point he was able to eat a Cinnabon his father had brought, and Patrick requested that Cinnabon’s be brought in the next day for not just him, but for the nurses as a thank you for their care. More information about the DAISY award can be found at https://www.daisyfoundation.org

Submitted by Robyn Ali, Marketing Specialist, Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, Marketing and Public Relations Department robyn.ali@franciscanalliance.org