Forrest Health Names DAISY Award Winner for March

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – (April 3, 2023) Forrest Health has named Ricky Pittman, RN, as its DAISY Award winner for March. Pittman is a nurse in the Emergency Department at Forrest General Hospital. The DAISY award, which is presented monthly to a deserving nurse or nurses, exemplifies clinical expertise and compassionate care and is recognized as a role model in the nursing community.­

“We were blown away by the exceptional care we received in the hospital’s ER, but especially from Ricky, even though he was not the primary nurse,” said the nominator. Pittman was nominated for exhibiting his We CARE values when a young patient was brought into the hospital’s Emergency Department due to a high blood glucose level. “Ricky exhibited all the We CARE values. He showed compassion and provided constant communication with us on our patient’s status and plan of care. He acknowledged her nervousness when drawing blood and eased them by discussing naming the patient’s new doll. He was reassuring to everyone when an ambulance was sent to transport us to Children’s Hospital in Jackson. Lastly, he showed empathy when our patient asked about eating something as she was hungry and had not eaten anything all day and it was lunchtime. He got permission from the ER doctor for food, and after finding out our patient LOVED Chick-fil-A, he personally went and bought her some grilled chicken nuggets which made her day! Thank you, Ricky, for going above and beyond for our family during a very scary, life-altering time for them.”

Ricky, who has been employed at Forrest Health for almost a year and a half, lives in Hattiesburg and received his nursing degree from Excelsior College. His decision to seek a career in healthcare is due to influences in his life that were in healthcare. “I had a family member who was a flight medic, which made me want to do that. I achieved that goal and was a flight nurse for 17 years.”

“A nurse, like Ricky, and others, who have been nominated for and honored with the DAISY Award during the past year, are an integral part of what makes Forrest General such a caring and compassionate place for your healthcare needs,” said Phyllis Chambers-Berry, Forrest Health vice president. “I am so proud of Ricky and how hard he works to make our patients feel appreciated and cared for in such a warm manner.”

The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 in California by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of 33 from complications of an auto-immune disease. During his eight-week hospital stay, his family was impressed by the care and compassion his nurses provided, not only to him but to everyone in the family. They created the DAISY Award in his memory to recognize those nurses who make a big difference in the lives of so many people.

Forrest Health is proud to be a DAISY Award partner and recognizes nurses with this special honor every month. Nurses are nominated by patients and family members, as well as other healthcare professionals. The winner is then selected by a board of healthcare workers. Each DAISY Award Honoree is recognized at a public ceremony in her/his unit and receives a certificate, a DAISY Award pin, and a hand-carved stone sculpture entitled, “A Healer’s Touch,” handcrafted by a tribe in Zimbabwe.

To nominate a nurse for a DAISY Award, visit forresthealth.org/daisyaward.

ABOUT FORREST HEALTH

Forrest Health is a system of healthcare organizations formed to increase access to quality healthcare in south Mississippi. Forrest General Hospital is its flagship hospital. In addition to Forrest General, Forrest Health hospitals include: Highland Community Hospital, Picayune; Jefferson Davis Community Hospital & Extended Care Facility, Prentiss; Marion General Hospital, Columbia; Pearl River County Hospital & Nursing Home, Poplarville; Perry County General Hospital, Richton; and Walthall General Hospital, Tylertown. Forrest Health is also home to The Orthopedic Institute and Institute of Neuroscience, both in Hattiesburg, as well as a variety of healthcare clinics throughout its 19-county coverage area.