Jordan sisters earn nursing’s Daisy Award at different hospitals

MADISON – Annie Jordan and Ashley Jordan, who are sisters, were honored with the Daisy Award in Nursing in the same timeframe at different hospitals.

Annie works at Huntsville Hospital Main. Ashley works at the University of Alabama at Birmingham – St. Vincent’s The Daisy Award, an international program, recognizes nurses for outstanding and compassionate nursing care.

This award has no prerequisites but is solely based on written and submitted nominations from either patients or coworkers. A committee reviews these nominations blindly, not knowing the nurse’s identity, and chooses a winner based on the quality of care described.

As a child, Ashley felt destined to work in healthcare. “Despite many challenges (for) a bedside nurse, I feel fulfilled when I go home at the end of the day. Knowing I did everything I could to make a difference in someone else’s life continues to motivate me.”

Since 2021, Ashley has worked as Staff Registered Nurse on the Labor and Delivery Unit at UAB – St. Vincent’s. She most enjoys “helping bring life into the world every day. Being a part of something so vulnerable and lifechanging for my patients is something that will never get old,” Ashley said.

Ashley appreciates her “wonderful coworkers and friends that value teamwork, which makes my job even better.”

“The Daisy ceremony melted my heart. I instantly felt one feeling . . . grateful. Grateful to my patients for recognizing my hard work and my amazing coworkers for being so supportive,” Ashley said. “I never thought I would be worthy enough to receive a Daisy. The reminders of joy that I received the Daisy continue to motivate me.”

“I’m fortunate enough to say most every day is a good day. But, to say every day is a smooth day in healthcare is far from the truth . . . even on a labor and delivery floor,” Ashley said. “Facing complex medical situations, juggling high patient volumes and working long hours — some days you can’t say you had a good day.”

However, Ashley focuses on the positive, even on tough days. She has learned “to deal physically and emotionally with the workload that it takes to be a bedside nurse.”

As a nurse in labor and delivery, Ashley’s main responsibilities include “monitoring maternal and newborn conditions and vital signs during labor to ensure safety of both mom and baby.” Other demands are administering high-risk medications, interpreting fetal heart rate, assisting during delivery, postpartum care, circulating in the Operating Room for C-sections, and emergency response for a complicated delivery.

“I’ve loved my past four years as a labor and delivery nurse. The next life-steps for me include returning to graduate school in the spring for my master’s degree at Emory College for Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program. I’ll graduate in December 2026. I’m excited to learn and grow as a medical professional,” Ashley said.

“In free time, I love to travel and experience new places with my friends. We are foodies that love to try new restaurants with fun cocktails. I also love to return to my hometown often (Madison) and spend time with all my family,” Ashley said.

Ashley graduated from James Clemens High School and the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a Registered Nurse.

Annie always has enjoyed helping people; biology was her favorite subject. “After college, I worked at a clinic and found I had a talent for patient care. So back to school I went for a nursing degree!” Annie said. “I’m very grateful for the knowledge, people and path that nursing has given me.”

Annie works at Huntsville Hospital in the Medical Service Line as Clinical Education Specialist for the Respiratory Care Unit. Annie’s position entails orientation of new staff members, coordinating requirements for staff education, teaching various classes, sitting on multiple hospital committees, working to prevent hospital- acquired injury and illness . . . overall, serving as a resource for the unit’s team.

“To receive any type of Daisy award from the Daisy Foundation, you must be nominated by peers and/or patients. Huntsville Hospital picks a unit director and an educator every year to give the Daisy Nurse Leader Award,” Annie said.

“I was presented the Daisy Nurse Leader Award because my AMAZING coworkers and staff members were kind enough to write in nominations for me,” Annie said. “They also nominated the director (of my unit), Dawn Webster. We were surprised with our awards on the same day . . . and the first time both awards went to the same unit.”

“I was just in shock and so happy when the Daisy was presented to me. When I got back to my office and called my parents, I did shed a few tears,” Annie said.

“It’s such an honor for recognition of the work I put in. A lot of my job these days is background work that most people don’t see,” Annie said. “I love being in a support role for our unit team. Winning an award validated that the staff feels as supported as I hope.”

For Annie, her job’s best components are “interacting with people from across the hospital to work towards common goals, supporting my unit team no matter what that looks like and knowing education and improvements, which I have a hand in, work to improve patient outcomes.”

A good day for Annie is “seeing growth of skill and knowledge base of staff members — especially new nurses — is so rewarding. My goal for our team is to always feel supported in striving towards the high standards we strive to maintain . . . whether that looks like formal education, being a resource, providing hands-on support, or working in the background to make sure workflow and work environment remain as ideal as possible.”

Annie graduated from Bob Jones High School and Mississippi State University in kinesiology science and Calhoun Community College as a Registered Nurse. For years, she worked as a travel nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic before joining Huntsville Hospital’s staff.

Away from work, Annie enjoys time with friends and Ashley, crocheting, weekend trips and baking — especially around the holiday season.

Annie and Ashley’s parents are Michael and Susie Jordan, both Madison natives.