June 11, 2022

Two Missouri Western State University nursing students were awarded DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nursing Students for the spring 2022 semester.

Hai Le, third semester nursing student from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Shayla Bocchine, fourth semester nursing student from Agency, Missouri, were honored as part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize compassionate and excellent nurses and nursing students.

Le’s nominator pointed to his compassion for a supervising nurse who had gone without lunch when he was with her for clinicals. The next time he was paired with the nurse, he saw that the nurse again had a busy schedule, and used his lunch break to purchase lunch for her and ensure she took a quick break to eat.

“Hai’s compassion for this nurse and his decision to act on the nurse’s behalf is a valuable character trait in a nurse,” the nominator said. “His future patients and co-workers will be very lucky and blessed to have him as an advocate and support.”

Shayla’s nominator said she prioritizes the needs of patients and families.

“She is excited about new experiences and has acquired a variety of nursing skills during her rotation in the I.C.U.,” the nominator said. “She is a very effective communicator. Shayla is very compassionate and exemplifies what it means to be an excellent nurse.”

Missouri Western offers a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree as well as a Diploma/ADN to BSN degree program for current RNs who want to earn their bachelor’s degree. Visit missouriwestern.edu/nursing/ for more information.

An acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem, The DAISY Foundation was formed in November 1999, by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). The DAISY Foundation expresses gratitude to nurses with programs that recognize them for the extraordinary compassionate, skillful care they provide patients and families.