Honoring Compassion in Action: A Nurse’s Journey of Dedication and Light

Nursing is more than a profession—it is a calling. For one nurse at PAH, Kayla Jamison, RN, the path to nursing began not in a classroom, but in a hospital bed. Living with multiple chronic illnesses meant countless admissions and firsthand exposure to the extraordinary role a nurse plays in a patient’s life. That experience sparked a dream: to be the person who brings comfort, care, and even a smile on the hardest days.
That dream became reality. After becoming an EMT at just 16 years old, she worked her way through college while serving her community in emergency services. Kayla later earned her Registered Nurse degree from Butler County Community College and went on to become a Pre-Hospital Registered Nurse (PH-RN), allowing her to serve both inside hospital walls and in the field. For her, it was never enough to simply wait—she wanted to make a difference immediately.
“On my very first day, I knew I was destined for this job,” Kayla shared. “Being a PH-RN allows me to be the light for someone else in their darkest moment, and that’s why I keep showing up.”
Her journey has expanded beyond clinical expertise. She is a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor, committed to breaking the silence around mental health. “Silence kills,” she says. “I want to be the reminder for people to stay, because they matter—even when they feel like they don’t.” She is also pursuing certification as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) to further support vulnerable patients in moments of crisis.
For nearly three years, Kayla has brought her skills, compassion, and resilience to PAH—two of them as a valued team member here. Her experience includes working in the ICU and on ambulances, where she has seen firsthand the impact of simply showing up for someone who feels alone.
Working in EMS has been especially meaningful. “Some individuals have no one. They call just to talk. I always want to be the person who listens. Knowing what I see on the outside makes me a better nurse on the inside.”
This year, her dedication was recognized with the DAISY Award, an honor that celebrates extraordinary nurses who go above and beyond in providing compassionate, skillful care. The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who passed away at the age of 33 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). His family created the foundation to thank and recognize nurses for the profound difference they make in the lives of patients and families.
For her, receiving this recognition was more than an award.
“It is easy to fall into a routine—come to work, do your job, go home. This award reminds me that my work is never mundane. It gives me the ability to be the light for someone else, even when I feel like I’ve done nothing but my job. It reminds me that my work matters, that I do make a difference. That is something I can never thank you enough for.”
The DAISY Foundation’s mission is to honor and celebrate nurses who combine knowledge and compassion, uplifting patients and families during life’s most difficult moments. With each honoree, DAISY reinforces the truth: extraordinary nursing is not only about clinical skill, but also about heart. According to Paula Spack, Vice President of Patient Care Services, "Kayla’s DAISY nomination reflects her compassion, which is a priority that PAH embodies.  Not only is Kayla skilled in the physical healing process but also in the process of nurturing and assisting with the mental health needs of our patients."  The anonymous nominator states, “This nurse truly showed me how much she cared.”  PAH is proud to have nurses like Kayla. 
As she continues her journey—whether teaching mental health first aid, pursuing SANE certification, or answering calls in the ICU or ambulance—her goal remains the same: to bring light where there is darkness, and to remind every patient that they are never alone.