Nursing graduate Kade Huff recognized for care, advocacy, leadership

At Ohio University Southern, nursing education is about more than passing exams. It is about shaping nurses who care deeply for their patients and for each other.

That is why the recognition of graduate Kade Huff with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students has become a point of pride for the entire campus.

The DAISY Award was established in 1999 by the DAISY Foundation to honor extraordinary nurses who provide compassionate care to patients and families. In recent years, the program expanded to include nursing students and faculty, recognizing those who demonstrate the qualities that define the best of the profession: compassion, connection, advocacy, clinical skill and commitment. Colleges and schools of nursing across the country participate, and nominations are carefully reviewed before recipients are selected.

Huff was one of only two students chosen from 21 nominees across six OHIO campuses. For him, the recognition came as a complete surprise.

“When they called me into the lecture hall, I thought I was in trouble,” Huff said. “When they presented the award, I was in shock. Later, when I learned that I was one of only two students across all the campuses to receive it, I realized how big of an honor it really was. I was excited that one of our students from OU Southern could be recognized at that level.”

Dr. Michelle Theiss, associate director and associate professor of nursing, said Huff’s leadership was apparent from the very beginning of the program.

“Kade was a leader in his cohort from the very first minute that they were together,” she said. “He arranged study sessions, created guides and encouraged his classmates to do their best. That is rare in nursing school, where most students are focused on their own success. Kade wanted everyone to rise together.”

Huff said those study sessions became a defining part of his time in the program.

“Before every exam, I would hold a FaceTime group study session,” he said. “Sometimes they went four hours long, but I didn’t mind. If a classmate had questions, I would drop everything and walk them through it. I took it upon myself to get these study sessions going. Seeing everyone pass their NCLEX exams on the first try has been the best reward.”

That same commitment guided Huff’s approach in the clinical setting. He brought lessons learned from his work on an ambulance into the hospital, where he focused on connecting with patients in ways that built trust.

“I talk to patients like they’re family,” Huff said. “I don’t mind to sit down, hold a hand or just listen to their story. A hospital stay can be one of the worst days of someone’s life, and I want them to feel respected and cared for.”

Faculty support, Huff added, played a major role in his growth as a nurse.

“All the professors want you to succeed,” he said. “They’ll do everything in their power to help you, but you have to put in the initiative. I really looked up to my clinical preceptor, Anita Bjorkelo. She’s like a walking textbook. I also appreciated Dr. Clement and Dr. Theiss. They showed so much compassion and pushed us hard, but it was because they wanted us to be the best nurses possible.”

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With the DAISY Award in hand and his NCLEX exam recently completed, Huff is beginning his career in the Intensive Care Unit at UK King’s Daughters.

“The ICU really interests me because you put everything you’ve learned on the table,” he said. “It’s going to be like a second nursing school, and I’m excited to learn. I hope I can be a beacon of light and remind others why we went into this profession, to give our best to patients.”

Looking back, Huff said he is grateful he chose Ohio University Southern for his nursing education.

“If anyone is thinking about going into nursing, I would definitely recommend OU Southern,” he said. “I drove 30 minutes every day, and some of my classmates drove an hour. It is worth it. When I went to job interviews, the hospitals already knew OU Southern was a rigorous program, and they were confident in the kind of nurse I would be.”

Theiss said Huff’s recognition shows both his personal qualities and the strength of the program.

“He is compassionate, an advocate and a leader,” she said. “Those qualities will carry him far in nursing, and we are proud to have him represent our campus.”

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