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Sarah Bast's "kindness lifted a tremendous burden off this family’s shoulders, and gave them peace during a moment filled with uncertainty." 

The Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) honors up to two UVA Health University Medical Center nurses each month with a DAISY Award. Associate Chief Nursing Officer Karin Skeen, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, and DAISY Award Committee Chair Crystal Richard, MSN, RN, CCRN, surprised Sarah Bast, BSN, RN, CPEN, with a DAISY Award.

As the nominator, Alex Kasmere, MSN, RN, CPEN, TCRN, EMTP, Nurse Manager, Pediatric Emergency Department, describes: "Sarah’s selfless act ... gave a scared mother the ability to stay with both of her children in a safe and supportive environment." Learn how:

"It is with immense gratitude and admiration that I nominate Sarah for the DAISY Award. She consistently exemplifies what it means to be a compassionate, patient-centered nurse — and a recent interaction with a family in our Pediatric Emergency Department showed just how far she’s willing to go to make a difference in the lives of others.

"During a night shift, Sarah was assigned to care for a pediatric patient who had been transferred to us from several hours away. The child arrived with their mother and infant sibling — all from out of state — with no local support system, no transportation, and no plan for how the mother would be able to stay with both of her children once the patient was admitted ....

"They were alone, far from home, and without the resources to change their situation. The mother’s worry was palpable — not just about her hospitalized child, but also about how to keep her infant safe, where they would sleep, and whether they would be separated overnight.

"That’s when Sarah stepped in — not just as a nurse, but as a human being with extraordinary empathy. Without being asked and without hesitation, Sarah called her husband at home and asked him to bring their own pack-and-play to the hospital. She did this quietly, humbly, and without seeking recognition — simply because it was the right thing to do.

"Sarah’s selfless act ensured the patient could be admitted without delay, and just as importantly, it gave a scared mother the ability to stay with both of her children in a safe and supportive environment. Sarah's kindness lifted a tremendous burden off this family’s shoulders, and gave them peace during a moment filled with uncertainty.

"Sarah didn’t just provide excellent clinical care — she gave this family dignity, compassion, and the kind of support that can’t be taught. Her actions reflect the very heart of nursing. She saw a need and she filled it — not because it was easy or convenient, but because that’s who she is.

"This story is just one example of the extraordinary nurse Sarah is. She brings that same empathy, heart, and dedication to every patient, every family, every shift. She embodies the spirit of the DAISY Award, and I can think of no one more deserving."

This isn't Bast's first DAISY Award. She's also part of the "Fabulous Four" (pictured, right) who scored the 2025 DAISY Team Award earlier this year — nominated by a UVA Health administrator. Learn why.

Know a Fabulous Nurse?
"DAISY" stands for "Diseases Attacking the Immune System." The DAISY Award was established by The DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of only 33 of an autoimmune disease. The Barnes Family was awestruck by the clinical skills, caring, and compassion of his nurses, so they created this national award to thank nurses everywhere.

At UVA Health University Medical Center — patients or their families, visitors, and team members may submit a DAISY Award nomination.