VA CWM Nurse Executive Receives Prestigious DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award
LEEDS — VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System (VA CWM) announced that Dr. Catherine Giasson has been awarded the esteemed DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award.
This award has been presented to 758 individuals, 19 of whom have been in the VA Healthcare System. Giasson is the first nurse within the VA in Massachusetts to receive this honor, which recognizes nurses who have dedicated their careers to compassionate care, mentorship, advocacy, and the advancement of the nursing profession.
Giasson’s 36-year career with the VA began as a nursing assistant at the VA Boston Healthcare System. She has since held numerous impactful roles, including staff nurse in long-term care, sub-acute medicine, and acute mental health, as well as nurse manager and chief of Education. In 2019, she joined VA CWM as outpatient nurse executive and, in 2022, assumed the role of associate director of Patient Care Services, where she oversees direct patient-care operations, staff education, and continuous-improvement initiatives to enhance the care of more than 28,000 veterans.
Throughout her career, Giasson has championed nursing excellence, professional development, and improved communication within nursing services. She implemented key initiatives such as a new nursing committee structure, quarterly nursing town halls, leadership rounding, and a nursing newsletter to enhance engagement and collaboration among staff. Under her leadership, VA CWM has launched significant programs, including Health Nurse Health Nation and the Pathways to Excellence journey, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to workforce well-being and exceptional patient care.
Giasson’s influence extends beyond VA CWM. She advocates for VA nursing and has held leadership positions within the Nurses Organization of Veteran Affairs, currently serving as its president. Her advocacy efforts have brought her to Washington, D.C. to push for congressional actions aimed at improving VA care nationwide. Her leadership was especially instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring stringent safety measures that resulted in zero cases among residents at VA CWM’s Community Living Center from 2020 to 2022. Her dedication to quality improvement has also led to increased census rates, reduced nursing turnover, and an improved quality rating for the facility’s long-term-care unit.
“Dr. Giasson’s receipt of the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award is a testament to her unwavering commitment to the nursing profession and the veterans she serves,” the organization stated. “VA CWM congratulates Dr. Giasson on the well-deserved recognition and thanks her for her dedication to excellence in nursing.”