Susan Tanking Honored as DAISY Award Recipient

Susan Tanking, LPN, Holton Family Health Center, has received the Spring 2025 DAISY Award from Community HealthCare System (CHCS). CHCS presents The DAISY award twice yearly for exemplary nursing.

Tanking was nominated by (Elizabeth) Joe Curtis who highlighted Susan’s compassion and empathy while sharing the story of her sister’s passing.

Curtis stated, “Susan is always so attentive. She is a powerhouse when it comes to patient care and always finds a way to relate to her patients. After sharing the story of my sister’s passing, Susan asked her name and wanted to know more about her (Jeannette) life.”

“I am not surprised by the kind words spoken about Susan,” said Mindy Olberding, Chief Nursing Officer at CHCS. “She has the innate ability to relate to patients of all ages and understands nursing truly about listening and extending compassion and empathy and providing encouragement. Susan has worked in our Holton location for over 20 years, now and we are very blessed to have her as part of the team,” Olberding stated.

Curtis said, “it was so good to have someone listen and to have the opportunity to say Jeannette’s name again. Susan made my heart feel good that day. Thank you, Susan. You are a true nurse angel.”

CHCS selects DAISY Award winners twice each year through a blind selection process. Tanking now joins an outstanding group of past winners who have shown true compassion and dedication to providing exceptional nursing.

The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died of complications of the autoimmune disease idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) at the age of 33. During Barnes’ eight-week hospitalization, his family was awestruck by the care and compassion his nurses provided. One of the goals they set in creating a foundation in Pat's memory was to recognize extraordinary nurses who make an enormous difference in the lives of so many people through the superhuman work they do every day. In pursuit of this goal, the family created the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The simple award and thank you to nurses have grown into a meaningful recognition program embraced by healthcare organizations around the world.

CHCS nurses can be nominated for this award in three ways: