Honoring Nurses with A Healer’s Touch

LIBERTY, Mo. September 17, 2024 – Together with Nursing Leadership, the Foundation came together to honor DAISY Award recipients with a permanent statue installation, the Healer’s Touch. The Healer’s Touch statue is a symbol of dedication to the nursing field that each DAISY Award honoree receives during the monthly celebration at Liberty Hospital. The Liberty Hospital Foundation wishes to congratulate honorees past and present with a permanent installation of this sculpture coupled with a digital board that will rotate with photos and recipient names.

CNOs from left to right: Jan Watkins, Shirley Heintz, Regenia Stull

Michael C. Russell, CAE, Executive Director of the Liberty Hospital Foundation said “We are incredibly thankful to the three Chief Nursing Officers of Liberty Hospital for their generous donation of this beautiful statue. It stands as a powerful symbol of our deep belief in the future of nursing here at Liberty Hospital. By honoring our nurses in such a prominent way, we recognize not only their hard work and dedication but also their pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare in our community.”

During the unveiling ceremony, Regenia Stull, current CNO, dedicated the statue as, “A tribute to the extraordinary, compassionate, and caring nurses at Liberty Hospital.” Jan Watkins, Retired Liberty Hospital CNO, said, “It is an honor and a privilege to be a nurse! Nursing has a profound impact on the lives of our patients, their families and the community. We have the ability to change lives by providing quality care, in a compassionate and safe environment.” Another retired Liberty Hospital CNO, Shirley Heintz, said that “the impact of this program additionally builds the concept of family centered care, and hence community loyalty. A third outcome of the program is building cooperation across the nursing team and clinical departments. Lastly, the DAISY promotes an environment of belonging.”

Jacklyn Gentry, Ed.D, RN, one of the key organizers of the DAISY program at Liberty Hospital said “The DAISY Award shines a well-deserved spotlight on the extraordinary compassion and dedication our nurses bring to their work every day. By recognizing their efforts, we not only celebrate individual excellence but also inspire others to continue delivering the highest level of care to our patients and their families. Our nurses are the heart of our hospital, and their contributions are invaluable.”

September’s DAISY Award Recipient, Heather Wilke

The DAISY Award is a wonderful way to recognize those nurses who have gone above and beyond exemplifying the best of nursing, and Liberty Hospital Foundation is proud to support the recognition of these exemplary individuals.

More about The Healer’s Touch:

The Healer’s Touch statues, both the award presented to the DAISY Award recipients and the larger permanent sculpture, are exceptional works of art, hand-crafted from African stone in Zimbabwe. Known as Shona Sculptures, these pieces are carved from stone that is millions of years old, using techniques passed down through generations. Each statue is uniquely hand-carved and signed by individual Shona artists, embodying the spirit of healing and compassion. Thousands of these sculptures are imported each year, representing a global connection to the artistry and dedication that mirrors the care and commitment of our nurses. This handcrafted piece not only symbolizes the healing touch of our caregivers but also serves as a meaningful, lasting tribute to the power of nursing and compassionate care.

“The sculptures are especially meaningful because of the profound respect the Shona people pay their traditional healers. Shona healers are affectionately regarded as treasures by those they care for, and the well-being and safety of the healer is of community-wide importance.”

– The DAISY Foundation

Read more about the creation of Healer’s Touch sculptures.