“When a patient and family are facing a medical crisis and possible death, they want to feel connected to those who are caring for them,” Eastman said in her DAISY Award nomination.

“We as a family will never forget our ‘earthly angel,’ (Smen), and we want her to be recognized for the outstanding nurse she is,” she said.

The award was created in 1999 by Bonnie and Mark Barnes as a way to thank the nurses whom tended to their son J. Patrick Barnes with the upmost compassion during the final days of his life.

“We created the DAISY Award to celebrate extraordinary compassionate care that nurses provide every day,” Bonnie Barnes said. “We expected when our son was sick to get really good clinical care, which we did.”

“But what we didn’t expect, and really we want to celebrate, is the way nurses deliver their care with so much heart and compassion and sensitivity. Not only to patients, but to their families as well.”

The award has been bestowed upon thousands of nurses within the U.S. and around the world since the the DAISY Foundation’s inception 25 years ago.

Following her compassionate care of Eastman, Smen was selected as the latest DAISY Award recipient.

During Nurses Week, which take place every year from May 6-12, Smen was surprised by Island Health’s leadership and her fellow healthcare team members with a ceremony to commemorate Smen’s receipt of the honor.

Smen was bestowed a certificate within a DAISY portfolio, a hand-carved “Healer’s Touch Sculpture” from Zimbabwe, an honoree pin and congratulatory banner.

“I’m just so excited to be able to win this; I love being a nurse, I love people, I love taking care of people,” Smen said. “… This place that I work at is amazing. I work here for the people, for sure. I don’t think I could be the nurse that I am had it not been for my coworkers.”