Jobi Banas of Bartonville has been selected as the first Methodist College - UnityPoint Health recipient of the DAISY in Training Award. The DAISY in Training Award is a recognition program of the national DAISY Foundation that recognizes and celebrates nursing students who exemplify the delivery of clinical care in an extraordinary and compassionate way to patients and their families.
Banas was selected among several student nominees submitted to the Methodist College Student Development Committee. In her nomination, Banas was cited for the compassion and care she demonstrated to a patient and his wife as the patient was facing the end of his life.
When asked about being selected for the award, Banas stated, “I am still a little in shock but I feel beyond honored that I received the DAISY Award. I feel so humbled that I was nominated and that my empathy and compassion toward the patients that I care for was recognized."
Banas is a senior at Methodist College pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. After graduation, she hopes to work in the Emergency Department or in Labor and Delivery. She stated that she has an amazing support system to help her balance life and school, specifically naming her boyfriend, Ryan and her 5-year-old son, Beau. Graduating from Methodist College and achieving her RN, will help Banas accomplish her lifelong goal to be a nurse.
"As long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a nurse,” Banas said. “I started working in the healthcare field right out of high school and quickly realized that I felt such strong empathy for the patients and their families. I wanted a career that allowed me to make a difference in someone’s life every day, big or small.”
The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of Patrick Barnes who died at the age of 33 from the auto-immune disease, ITP. The family was so touched by the care and compassion that Barnes received during his illness, they established the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation as a way to recognize extraordinary nurses who daily demonstrate the care and compassion Patrick received.
After Banas received her award, her classmates were treated to cinnamon rolls provided by the college following a tradition of the DAISY recognition program as this treat was a favorite of Patrick Barnes.
In addition to the DAISY in Training Award, the Foundation also awards the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses and the DAISY Faculty Award that was created to recognize and celebrate the contributions faculty make to the future of nursing. For more information, visit www.daisyfoundation.org.