Honoring Excellence

Darrell Daugherty, RN, Earns the Nurses Making a Difference Award

Darrell Daugherty, RN, holds his Nurses Making a Difference Award. 

Nurses are vital in health care. Each day, they show up for their communities with compassion, excellence and trust in the care they give. Enloe Health is dedicated to celebrating the teamwork, professionalism and person-centered care nurses deliver.

During National Nurses Week — celebrated May 6-12 annually — Enloe honors a nurse who demonstrates extraordinary examples of compassion, commitment, collaboration and expertise with the Nurses Making a Difference Award. This year, Darrell Daugherty, RN, a perioperative nurse, was recognized as the second annual recipient of the award.

The Nurses Making a Difference Award is a lifetime achievement that honors nurses whose body of work — both in and out of the profession — makes a lasting impact on the communities they serve.

Daugherty has worked at Enloe Health since the early 1980s. He worked at Seneca District Hospital in Chester from 1992-1997 before returning to Enloe’s Surgery department in 2000.

But Daugherty’s commitment to service goes far beyond the operating room. When he’s not working at Enloe, Daugherty volunteers his time and expertise on surgical missions around the world — including life-changing cleft palate surgeries for children in need. Within the last year, he’s traveled to Africa, Asia and Central America to volunteer.

“I’m truly honored to receive the Nurses Making a Difference Award,” Daugherty said. “This award represents our entire surgery team’s commitment to show up for patients and support one another. I’m grateful to work alongside people who share that purpose, and I’ll keep doing my best to serve our community with compassion and consistency.”

Throughout his career, Daugherty has proven his dedication to patient care and support for his fellow caregivers. According to Enloe Health’s Chief Nursing Officer Sandra Bernstein, Daugherty’s leadership, compassion, and commitment to his team and patients made him especially deserving of the award.

According to Bernstein, Daugherty frequently steps in for his colleagues during long shifts, weekends and work holidays despite being semi-retired. He also offers to work on organ donor recovery surgeries to reduce the emotional toll on his peers.

“Darrell represents the very best of those who keep our hospital running around the clock with dedication and kindness,” Bernstein said. “Those who work alongside Darrell know him as a steady, positive and deeply supportive presence — even during the most difficult nights. Through his humility, service and generosity of spirit, Darrell exemplifies what it truly means to make a difference.”

Nominations for the Nurses Making a Difference Award were submitted by Enloe Health caregivers and volunteers. There was a total of 23 nurses nominated. After reviewing the nominees, Enloe Health’s Nurses Executive Committee selected the winner. Daphne Meza, Surgical Quality Improvement Program Coordinator, who nominated Daugherty, further highlighted his sense of teamwork.

“Darrell is an exemplary team player. He makes himself available to cover open shifts — whether it is day, night, weekends or as a relief charge nurse. He cares deeply about his team and patients and will do whatever it takes to support patients and his peers,” Meza said.

To qualify for the Nurses Making a Difference Award, a nurse must have been with Enloe Health for at least five years and demonstrate exceptional compassion, person-centered care, clear communication, a commitment to going above and beyond, professionalism, teamwork, and clinical expertise.

Learn more about the Nurses Making a Difference Award by visiting www.enloe.org/nurses-award.