Methodist Hospital’s Tony Opitz honored with The DAISY Award
Published: Nov. 3, 2026
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses honors caregivers for their extraordinary skill and compassion. Over 5,400 organizations worldwide work with The DAISY Foundation to recognize deserving nurses. Learn more about The DAISY Award here.
Congratulations to Tony Opitz, BSN, RN, a nurse coordinator on the Medical-Surgical Unit at Methodist Hospital, for being honored with The DAISY Award.
The Nebraska Methodist College alumnus was nominated by a “grateful mother,” who wrote:
“Addiction is a terrible disease, but I am forever thankful my daughter was brought to Methodist. She was admitted to the progressive care unit by the police. The first day was rough, with many fits. As a mother, I was embarrassed and shocked by her actions. During one of her fits, the nurses called for the response team. The first person in the room was someone I can only describe as a big man, who I later learned was a charge nurse named Tony. Security was following right behind. I have seen this before; they were about to restrain her.
“To my surprise, this did not happen. Tony stopped security at the door, then calmly walked in and took charge. I was asked to step out, and Tony did not raise his voice. He was the first person to talk to my daughter like a patient with a disease. By the time he left, she was calm. The next day, we were moved to another unit. When we arrived, there again was the teddy bear named Tony. Again, he was calm. He set the tone for the rest of her stay. While she had a few more fits, everyone on the Medical-Surgical Unit knew exactly what to do and how to make the situation better.
“So many staff touched our lives during our stay. Thank you for doing the hard work. You will always be in my daily prayers.”
Do you know a nurse who is deserving of The DAISY Award? Nominations can be submitted by patients, family members, colleagues or anyone who experiences or observes extraordinary care being provided by a nurse. To nominate a Methodist nurse for The DAISY Award, click here.
