Meaningful Recognition: Expressing Gratitude and What it Means to Nursing Care

Abstract

Meaningful recognition provides a means for patients and families to express gratitude for their nursing care. Through structured interviews with patients and families who had nominated their nurse for The DAISY Award, their responses generated insights for nursing leaders to understand. In these conversations, themes emerged from the research in examining what it means to patients and families to say thank you. Operationalizing these themes can leverage greater engagement between patients and families with their healthcare organizations. The researchers will provide perspectives on application of their findings from a nursing leadership perspective and implications to practice and future research opportunities.