Jennifer Owens receives DAISY Award for extraordinary care

Last week, Jennifer Owens, MSN, CPNP, CNS, of the STEPS Pediatric Palliative Care Team, was honored with a DAISY Award for her outstanding commitment to compassionate, patient- and family-centered care. Jennifer consistently demonstrates a rare combination of clinical expertise and emotional intelligence, supporting families through complex and deeply personal decisions with clarity, empathy, and respect. Her work with a young father during his infant daughter’s hospitalization exemplifies her ability to lead with both skill and humanity in the most challenging circumstances.

From the nomination:

“I am honored to nominate Jen Owens, Nurse Practitioner on the STEPS Pediatric Palliative Care Team, for the DAISY Award. Jen consistently embodies the core values of pediatric palliative care: presence, clinical excellence and extraordinary compassion. She has a remarkable ability to support families through profound loss while guiding care teams with clarity and grace.

“Jen recently cared for a child with a life-limiting condition and their family during an extended hospitalization. From the outset, she created a space of trust and safety for the child’s parent, who remained at the bedside while navigating overwhelming grief and uncertainty. Jen gently guided conversations about hopes, values, and complex medical decisions, balancing deep compassion with clear, thoughtful communication.

“She maintained a steady presence throughout, leading interdisciplinary meetings and ensuring the family felt informed, supported, and heard. In moments of intense emotion, Jen created space for the parent to process while helping the care team communicate with empathy and respect.

“As the child’s condition progressed, Jen compassionately guided the parent through difficult decisions, helping them focus on comfort and dignity. She also supported the extended family and provided emotional support to staff, bringing calm and steadiness to all involved.

“At the end of the child’s life, Jen ensured both comfort and dignity, remaining present for the family during an unimaginable loss. In the days that followed, the parent shared deep gratitude, expressing that Jen’s presence made them feel less alone during the most difficult time of their life.

“Jen’s care demonstrates the very essence of the DAISY Award: extraordinary compassion, exceptional clinical skill, family-centered advocacy, and a profound commitment to dignity. She transformed an unthinkable tragedy into a space where love, presence, and humanity could guide every step. For these reasons and so many more, I wholeheartedly and gratefully nominate Jen Owens for the DAISY Award at UC Davis Medical Center.”*

Congratulations on your DAISY Award!   
*This nomination has been edited to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the patient and family.

About DAISY Awards:
The DAISY Award is part of The DAISY Foundation, an international program dedicated to recognizing nursing excellence. Established by the Barnes family in memory of their son, Patrick, the award honors the exceptional, compassionate care Patrick received from nurses during his eight-week hospitalization. To express their gratitude, the family created the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, celebrating the remarkable and often unsung work nurses perform every day at the bedside.