At Conexus MedStaff, we believe extraordinary nurses deserve to be recognized for the dedication and excellence they bring to their patients every day.
Last year, we were proud to announce our partnership with The DAISY Foundation and the launch of the Conexus MedStaff DAISY Award, an opportunity to celebrate nurses who go above and beyond in their care and commitment to others.
Now, we are honored to announce our very first Conexus MedStaff DAISY Award winner: Hermaton Nalyanya.
A nurse whose journey has taken him from Kenya to the United States, Hermaton's dedication to his patients is exactly what the DAISY Award was created to recognize.
When he received the news that he had been selected, he was completely surprised: "since I became a nurse 9 or 10 years ago, I have never won such an award. I am so happy."
For Hermaton, this award represents so much more than recognition; it is a reminder that his work matters. He says, " I feel appreciated. I feel I can do this. It really motivates me to work harder, to give in more effort and more work for my patients."
Continuing His American Dream
When we first shared Hermaton’s story, he was beginning a new chapter as an international nurse building a life in the United States.
Since then, Hermaton has embraced the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, adapting to a new healthcare system while continuing to expand his skills as a nurse. For him, the experience has been a chance to learn and continue providing the best possible care for his patients.
“Coming from Africa, where we don’t have much of the healthcare system that we are seeing here, it changes everything,” he shared. “I’m happy being here because I get to experience this.”
After arriving in January 2025, Hermaton’s wife and children joined him six months later, allowing the family to begin building their new life together in the U.S. They have embraced new experiences, with his children settling into school and the family enjoying opportunities to explore their new home.
Sharing his DAISY Award achievement with his family and fellow nurses made the moment even more meaningful.
“I told my mother and she was very happy,” Hermaton shared. “I also sent a picture to fellow nurses from Kenya. They were very happy. Everyone was like, ‘Hey brother, congratulations. You are motivating us to come to America.'"
Looking to the future
Receiving the DAISY Award has inspired Hermaton to continue growing in his nursing career. Looking ahead, he hopes to further his education and pursue leadership opportunities, with the goal of becoming a nurse manager.
For Hermaton, the recognition is a reminder that the care he provides to his patients and colleagues is making an impact.
“If someone can recognize you from far — what you are doing to your patient, what you are doing to your colleagues, what you are doing to your friends — that motivates me,” he said. “It means that someone is seeing what you are doing.”
A Journey That Inspires Others
Hermaton hopes his journey can inspire other international nurses working toward their own dreams of moving to the U.S.
“I'd just tell them to work hard,” he said. “This journey is real. It takes time. Be patient, be persistent, work hard, continue with your clinicals, continue working in your hospitals, and continue supporting each other.”
He also wants aspiring international nurses to believe in themselves. “Don’t fear about your English,” he shared. “You are a nurse. Be motivated, work hard, use the skills and knowledge that you got from nursing school, and you will serve the patients as needed.”
Alongside celebrating Hermaton’s achievement, Conexus is also proud to recognize our other DAISY Award nominee, Abiba, whose own nursing journey reflects the dedication and resilience of international nurses building new lives and caring for communities across the United States.
Congratulations, Hermaton, on this well-deserved achievement. We are proud to celebrate your journey and the difference you continue to make.
Ready to start your own journey to becoming a U.S. nurse?
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