Martinsburg VA Medical Center announce Daisy Award Recipient

Rice, who worked in Primary Care, and recently transitioned to Home Based Primary Care, has been a nurse for 13 years. He has served at the Martinsburg VAMC since 2016 and said his inspiration for his service is his grandmother, Kathy Rice, who worked as a nurse for over 30 years with Kings Daughters Hospital and eventually joined the VA.

“She has been a blessing as a nurse and mentor, and I try to strive for her patience and understanding of others in my nursing career,” said Rice.

Rice also said that he is inspired to serve by his great grandfather, who was a WWII Veteran.

“This was a motivator for me to pick up a stethoscope and carry the tradition of nursing in the family and honor our veterans,” added Rice.

Nurses are eligible for the Daisy Award through nominations by colleagues and patients. Rice was nominated by five patients whose comments reflected the dedication and service of Rice to Veterans.

“I have come to know John Rice to be a consummate medical professional as he attends to me on my visits to [doctors appointments],” said one Veteran who nominated Rice. “Nurse John projects competence as he performs his tasks unhurriedly, smiling and chatting as he moves about, obviously enjoying his work. John Rice is a remarkable young man, a credit to his profession due largely, I believe, because he has a heartfelt interest in the patients he sees.”

The Daisy Award was created in 1999 by the national nonprofit, The Daisy Foundation. Today, the award recognizes the hard work and sacrifice of nurses in 5,400 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing in all 50 states and 35 additional countries and territories.

Lona Lozinski, Public Affairs Specialist

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