DAISY Award for Nurse Leah Bridges

CHATTANOOGA, TN (July 22, 2026) – CommonSpirit - Memorial Hospital - Chattanooga recently honored Leah Bridges, RN, with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

A fellow nurse nominated Bridges for transforming  a communication challenge with a deaf patient into an opportunity for human connection and comfort. 

 “Leah's calm demeanor, compassionate touch, and ability to bridge that communication barrier brought an immediate sense of relief to both the patient and our team… Leah continued to check in on the patient, returning to her room multiple times to sign reassuring words, hold her hand, and ensure she felt safe and understood... Leah's compassion turned what could have been a traumatic and isolating experience for this patient into one of comfort, dignity and trust. Leah's kindness and initiative embody the true essence of nursing, the ability to see beyond medical needs and meet patients where they are, emotionally and personally… [S]he took it upon herself to advocate, comfort and connect in a way that profoundly impacted everyone who witnessed it.”

Bridges  works in the cardiovascular  intensive care unit at CommonSpirit - Memorial Hospital - Chattanooga and has worked at CommonSpirit since 2023.

CommonSpirit partners with the DAISY Foundation to recognize the difference nurses make in the lives of patients and coworkers.

Nurses are chosen each month to receive the award, which honors compassionate care. Honorees receive a bouquet of daisies, a certificate, a copy of their nomination letter and a sculpture called "A Healer’s Touch." It is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. The honoree's nursing unit also receives a cinnamon doughnut party. Tasty Doughnuts donates the treats.

Learn more about the DAISY Foundation.

About CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital
CommonSpirit - Memorial Hospital  is a not-for-profit, faith-based health care organization dedicated to the healing ministry of the Church. Founded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, it offers a continuum of care including preventative, primary and acute hospital care, as well as cancer, cardiac, neuroscience, and stroke care, and orthopedic and rehabilitation services. Memorial Hospital  is a regional referral center of choice with 4,700 employees and almost 500 affiliated physicians providing health care throughout Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. To learn more, visit commonspirit.org/memorial.