Salinas Valley Health Nurse Receives DAISY Award

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

SALINAS, CA, August 31, 2018- Ilona Dobay, RN is the August recipient of the DAISY Award at Salinas Valley Health. Salinas Valley Health participates in the national DAISY Award program, which celebrates compassionate and skillful nursing care. Dobay is a Staff Nurse II in the Emergency Department.

“It’s so touching to be nominated and to receive the DAISY Award,” says Ilona Dobay, RN. “I love taking care of people and I couldn’t do my work without the support of my colleagues. I’m a better nurse because of them.”

Dobay joined Salinas Valley Health in 2004 and has worked in the Emergency Department since then. A colleague nominated Dobay for the DAISY award for the compassionate care she provided her daughter in the ER. The co-worker shared that she brought her three-year-old daughter to the Emergency Department because she was experiencing a seizure. Her daughter was unconscious and had to be intubated. She expressed that Dobay stayed calm, was very helpful, kind, compassionate, and attentive to their daughter and to her and her husband’s concerns. “I’m so grateful for Ilona. She has a special place in my heart.”

“Ilona is an inspiring registered nurse,” says Carla Spencer, RN, Emergency Department Nursing Director. “Her compassion and ability to care for patients and their families is exceptional. She is a member of our dedicated team and we are thrilled about that.”

Dobay will be recognized by the publicly elected Board of Directors at its September board meeting. The following employees were also nominated for the August DAISY Award: Joseph Bradley, RN, Nicole Chahwan, RN, Jeanette Gross, RN, Moreen Jones, RN, Michelle Orta, RN, Cielo Pasag, RN, Estee Perez, RN, Linda Pewthers, RN and Teresa Woodrow, RN.

Every month, Salinas Valley Health recognizes an outstanding employee with a DAISY Award (for nurses) or a STAR Award (for all staff).To learn more about the awards visit Nurse Recognition | Salinas Valley Health or STAR Award | Monterey County Health System (SalinasValleyHealth.com).