05/21/2026
DAISY Award Honoree: Mary Hayes, ASN, RN
This week, we are highlighting the three major award recipients recognized during our Rooted in Care awards ceremony. Today, we are proud to recognize our DAISY Award honoree, Mary Hayes, ASN, RN.
The DAISY Foundation DAISY Award recognizes nurses who go above and beyond in the care they provide to patients and families. It honors the compassion, skill, and dedication that nurses bring to the bedside every day.
Mary has been part of Acadia St. Landry Hospital for 11 years and serves as a Charge Nurse on the Day Shift. With more than a decade on the front lines of care, she brings experience, energy, and unmistakable joy to every shift.
Before joining ASLH, Mary spent 14 years as a night nurse, making her role here her very first day job in nursing. She embraced the change and quickly became a steady presence for patients, staff, and families.
Mary says one of the things she enjoys most is meeting new people, seeing new faces, and working with different personalities and departments. That fits her well. She brings a kind of positivity that people notice, but she also brings the work ethic to back it up.
In addition to her full-time role at ASLH, Mary also works PRN in behavioral health and IV infusion therapy. Her reason is simple: she loves being a nurse.
Garrett Higginbotham, Director of Nursing, shared, “Mary is the kind of nurse who brings both skill and heart to the bedside. She is dependable, positive, and committed to her patients. As a Charge Nurse, she helps support her team while making sure patients and families feel cared for. We are proud to see her recognized as our DAISY Award honoree.”
Mary’s advice to those starting out in healthcare says a lot about who she is: take pride in your work, do your job well, and remember that the real reward comes from patients and their families.
That mindset shows in the way Mary cares. She understands that nursing is not only about what you do, but how you make people feel while they are in your care.
Outside of work, Mary loves traveling with her husband and spending time with her grandchildren. She proudly claims the title of Best Grandma Ever, and with six grandchildren and two more on the way, she has plenty of reason to do so.
Mary Hayes is a strong example of Small Town, Big Care. She shows up, works hard, supports her team, and cares for patients with purpose.
Please join us in congratulating Mary Hayes, ASN, RN, on this well-deserved DAISY Award recognition.