Erin Bravo, RN Named as 2026 Daisy Foundation Award Honoree

Adventist Health Tillamook recognizes Erin Bravo, RN, a surgical nurse in their Surgery Department, as its 2026 DAISY Foundation Award honoree, celebrating her exceptional compassion, clinical excellence, and commitment to patient care.

The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that honors nurses who provide extraordinary care and make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and their families. Established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, the award recognizes nurses who demonstrate clinical skills alongside deep compassion, empathy, and connection.

Erin was selected from 28 nominations, each reflecting outstanding nursing care across the organization and making this recognition especially meaningful. Her nomination highlighted her ability to establish strong, trust‑based connections with patients, create comfort in often stressful surgical settings, and provide thoughtful education and support to both patients and families.

“Erin has been a strong performer since she joined the surgery department 10 years ago. She continues to challenge herself and step up every time there’s a need without being told to,” her nomination shared. “As a nurse, she is versatile. She works efficiently in pre‑op, caring for patients from kids to geriatric, and makes them feel at ease.”

Her impact extends beyond patient care into operations and leadership. Erin recently completed her master’s degree in nursing leadership and management, focusing her project on improving the reprocessing and sterilization of surgical instruments to ensure safety and consistency across the department. She dedicated months to educating staff and strengthening systems that support smoother, safer surgical workflows. Her leadership has also supported cross department collaboration, including training OB staff in surgical procedures and stepping in during critical moments to ensure continuity of care.

“Erin embodies everything the DAISY Award stands for — clinical excellence, compassion, and a genuine commitment to both patients and her team,” said Heather Thompson, Patient Care Executive at Adventist Health Tillamook. “To be selected from such a strong group of nominees speaks to the profound impact she has on those around her. We are incredibly proud to recognize her contributions and the difference she makes every day.”

Colleagues describe Erin as someone who “stands for what this organization believes in,” consistently demonstrating Adventist Health values through her actions, advocating for patients, supporting coworkers, and taking initiative to improve care.