Colby Spaeth, a registered nurse in the Conway Regional Emergency Department, has received the DAISY award for nursing excellence for the care he provides patients and the leadership that he has demonstrated among his co-workers. 

Spaeth began his career in the Emergency Department as a tech in 2017 prior to achieving his degree as a registered nurse in 2019.  

He achieved the DAISY award based on an anonymous nomination by a co-worker. “Every patient who comes through the doors here, regardless of complaint, is treated with the upmost respect by Colby. He always listens and provides excellent care and unique compassion,” read the nomination.  

The nomination also emphasized, “Colby has taken on increased leadership roles over the past year and has been instrumental in mentoring new nurses to our department,” The nomination gave included an example in which Colby intervened to ensure a patient’s safety. “Colby made sure the patient was comfortable and cared for and took time out of his busy schedule to privately discuss safety protocols with the nurse.” He also tirelessly searches for areas where improvement can be made in policies and procedures to benefit patients. 

All nominations for the DAISY award are anonymous and the award is presented based on the patient care story submitted. Nomination forms are available throughout the medical center and online at www.conwayregional.org/daisy-award-nomination-form  

Conway Regional has been awarding the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) since January of 2017. The awards are part of a national nursing recognition program that honors J. Patrick Barnes, a patient who died from complications of an autoimmune disease in 1999. The DAISY Award was set up by Barnes’ family to officially recognize nurses who show great compassion and provide exemplary care.