The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died from complications of the autoimmune disease idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) at the age of 33. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The DAISY Foundation’s mission is to meaningfully celebrate extraordinary, compassionate nurses. This is done through The DAISY Award. 

The DAISY Award is a recognition program to celebrate and recognize nurses by collecting nominations from patients, families, and co-workers. The awards are facilitated, run, and given out by organizations partnered with The DAISY Foundation. It is a way to thank nurses for the care and kindness they provide. There are DAISY awards for nurses and the DAISY Academic Award category is for nursing students and nurse educators. The nominations are via blind submission and sent to an internal committee at the participating organization. The committee reads and scores the nominations using criteria that focus on compassion and alignment with the mission and values of each organization that partners with the foundation. Honorees are selected throughout the year to provide continuous celebration of extraordinary nurses. Schools of nursing usually present awards once or twice a year based on graduation, pinning ceremony, or convocation schedules.

The DAISY Award for nursing is given out to nurses for extraordinary care. Nurses can be nominated by anyone. In the healthcare setting, nominations come from patients, family members, other nurses, physicians, clinicians, or staff who experience or observe extraordinarily compassionate care being provided by a nurse. 

The nominations are blind submissions sent to an internal committee at the participating organization. The committee reads and scores the nominations using criteria that focus on compassion and alignment with the mission and values of each organization that partners with the foundation. Honorees are selected throughout the year to provide continuous celebration of extraordinary nurses. Schools of nursing usually present awards once or twice a year based on graduation, pinning ceremony, or convocation schedules.

The DAISY Student Award is part of the DAISY Academic Awards. The DAISY Foundation, as part of its service to the nursing profession's role in patient care, established the student award to provide colleges and schools of nursing with a national recognition program to celebrate nursing students who demonstrate a commitment to care and compassion and demonstrate the important nurse-patient connection. Nominations are submitted by fellow students, preceptors, faculty, staff, or alumni. 

The DAISY Nurse Educator Award is part of the DAISY Academic Awards. The DAISY Award for Nursing Faculty was introduced in 2010 and honors nursing faculty for the contributions they make to the future of nursing. Nominations are submitted by students, preceptors, other faculty, staff, or alumni. Undergraduate and graduate students, preceptees, residents, clinicians, and professionals across the spectrum of nursing education are encouraged to nominate educators, NPD practitioners, mentors, and preceptors who are dedicated to improving practice and advancing patient care. Colleagues of educators and students alike are invited to share compelling stories that highlight teaching, mentoring, compassion, and care.