Atlantic, IA – Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic, say they are thrilled to announce Emmy Benton, RN, BSN is the newest recipient of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.® The award is part of The DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate care nurses provide to patients and families every day. Benton has been a nurse since 2016, and she joined the Cass Health Specialty Clinic team in 2020.

Benton says she “Always knew [she] would have a career where [she] would help people. It’s just how we were raised — it was instilled in us to always help others.” At the award presentation, she was surprised to hear her name called. “When we saw the banner announcing that the winner was in our department, I never would have guessed it was for me! I could tell you a reason why every nurse in this department is deserving of this award,” she said.

She was nominated by Brittany Knudsen—a fellow nurse at Cass Health— for the care that she provided to Knudsen’s grandparents. Knudsen wrote: “Emmy met them in their car and explained the provider’s new recommendations for plan of care. Emmy answered all the questions the patient and his wife had. Her compassion and determination allowed them to leave the hospital feeling calm and optimistic. I know how important and meaningful that was to the patient, because he is my grandpa.”

In the nomination, Knudsen also remarked, “Emmy goes above and beyond to ensure that each patient receives not only the best medical care but also holistic support during some of their most vulnerable moments. In addition to her clinical skills, Emmy is a team player who inspires those around her. She continually supports her colleagues, whether through mentorship, assisting with challenging cases, or offering a listening ear when needed. Her ability to remain calm and composed under pressure is a true asset, and her infectious positivity uplifts everyone she works with. Emmy embodies the core values of nursing: care, compassion, and commitment to the well-being of her patients.”

DAISY Winner Emmy with husband Beck Benton and children Lettie and Ames.

Benton said that it means a lot to be recognized with this award. “You do small things every day. And it doesn’t seem out of the ordinary to me, but those small things are what makes a difference to people.” Nurses at Cass Health are honored twice annually with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.® The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.)

The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. CCHS says one initiative of The DAISY Foundation is to express gratitude to the nursing profession. Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing, and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students.

More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org. An online nomination form is available at https://www.casshealth.org/daisy.