Sparrow Eaton awards DAISY honor to Emergency Department nurse 

CHARLOTTE, MI – A Sparrow Eaton Hospital nurse whose patience and kindness during an emergency impressed a patient has been honored with the DAISY Award for his outstanding nursing skills and always putting patients first.

Emergency Department Nurse Tyler Baker, RN, was named DAISY Award honoree based on a nomination from a patient who said Baker was never rushed and maintained his professionalism and compassion during the emergent situation, going so far as to wash blood from her hair.  Baker has worked at Sparrow Eaton since early 2022 and at Sparrow Health System since 2019. Baker also served his country as a USAF Technical Sergeant from 2008-2017, receiving multiple honors from both the Air Force and Army. 

“Tyler demonstrates composure, warmth and skill with every patient that he cares for,” said Sparrow Eaton Hospital Emergency Department Manager Rachel Latunski, RN. “He is personable and adored by his fellow caregivers, he is able to think and act fast, and best of all his love for his job shows in his work ethic. The Sparrow family is so very fortunate to harness his talents on this local team.”

The DAISY Foundation was formed in November 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). The nursing care Patrick received when hospitalized profoundly touched his family. After Patrick’s passing, The DAISY Foundation and The DAISY Award (named as an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System) were created to give patients, families and co-workers an easy way to express gratitude for nurses who provide extraordinary, compassionate care.

Baker signed the travelling DAISY banner – now displayed in the Sparrow Eaton Emergency Department – and received a DAISY recipient pin, certificate and a beautiful stone sculpture known as “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists in Zimbabwe. The sculpture depicts the embracing relationship nurses have with their patients.

Sparrow Eaton Hospital encourages anyone who wants to thank a nurse for the care they received – or in honor of the care a loved one received – to nominate them for a DAISY Award. Awards will be presented twice annually.

Photo courtesy of Sparrow Health System