Christopher Mobley, a nurse at Van Diest Medical Center (VDMC), was presented the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses Tuesday afternoon in the hospital board room. He was one of 10 nominees for the annual award.
The presentation coincided with the beginning of National Nurses Week, May 6 through 12, 2025.
The Daisy Foundation was created in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by his family. The Daisy Award was established to honor and thank nurses all around the world for their skillful and compassionate care.
Nurses can be nominated by patients, family members, other nurses, physicians and staff – anyone who experiences or observes extraordinary compassionate care being provided by a nurse. VDMC has nomination forms available on its website, vandiestmc.org.
Ten nominations were reviewed for the Daisy Award by a selection committee of leaders from VDMC.
Lisa Ridge, Chief Executive Officer, welcomed those in attendance at the ceremony.
“Join me in celebrating the spirit of the Daisy Award and the extraordinary individuals who embody its values,” said Ridge. “Together, let us honor their achievements to inspire one another to continue our journey of making a positive impact for the patients in our communities.”
“On this special day – Nurses Day – we celebrate not just a profession but a calling; a commitment to service that touches lives in ways that words often fail to capture,” Amy McDonough, Chief Nursing Officer said. “Nursing is more than just a job; it’s an act of love, an unyielding promise to stand by patients and their families in times of vulnerability, fear and hope.
“Our nurses are the quiet heroes who show up day after day, bringing light to some of the darkest moments,” she said.
Mobley was nominated by Rose Plain and Jaqueline Peterson, family members of a patient under Mobley’s care.
In the nomination, Plain said, “Christopher took care of my father from the day he was admitted to the hospital. We need more nurses like him. He really puts his heart into his job… He gave the best care to my dad. We’re so glad we had such a great nurse caring for our dying father.”
Peterson said Mobley went above and beyond with his compassion and care.
“It takes a special kind of soul to care like this,” Peterson said.
Both Plain and Peterson were in attendance to watch Mobley receive the award. His wife, Samantha Mobley, who also works at VDMC, and his children were also in attendance.
He was presented with a certificate, a Daisy pin, a bouquet of daisies and a sculpture called The Healer’s Touch. The sculpture is meant to represent the bond between nurses and their patients.
“It is very humbling,” Mobley said of the award. “It’s hard to put words to how meaningful this is.”
The other Daisy Award nominees were: Brian Gray, RN, Wally Ubben, RN, Crystal Short, RN, Anna Anderson, RN, Modenna Hanus, RN, Kari Harlow, LPN, Kristie Neddermeyer, RN, Dawn Eimers, RN, and Brittany Sadler, RN. Each was presented with a certificate, a pin and a copy of their nomination.