Kimberly Meloro honored with DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses

Kimberly Meloro, BSN, BS RN-BC, CCRN, of the Surgical Critical Care Complex (SCCC) at Christiana Hospital, received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses for November 2017.

Christiana Care DAISY Award recipients are nurses recognized for meeting and exceeding the needs and expectations of patients and families by displaying exceptional clinical skills, compassion, respect and partnership.

This DAISY nomination came from the niece of a patient.

“Kim was her nurse, and her clinical expertise was remarkable,” she said in the nomination. “She explained in layman’s terms the various equipment and medications that were hooked up to my aunt. She fielded questions like a Gold Glove shortstop. As an emergency care nurse, I expected this competency from a critical care colleague. What set Kim apart was her compassion and attention to the needs of the family.

“My aunt was a very private person who took great pride in her personal appearance. She was well maintained. Kim picked up on this immediately and took the time to fix her hair, straighten her sheets, smooth out the wrinkles in her gown, etc., so the family’s final memories of her did not deviate much from how she presented herself in life.

“After discussing outcomes with the medical team, the family made the decision to withdraw care. Again, it was Kim who provided the information that was easily understandable. When my aunt passed away she looked beautiful and peaceful. Her death was unexpected and the pain is still present. Kim provided a care environment that afforded my aunt a dignified and peaceful death.”

Established in 1999, the family of J. Patrick Barnes created the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award to honor his memory with a tribute to the skillful and compassionate care he received from his nurses during his hospitalization. Today, more than 2,500 health care facilities in every state and 15 countries honor nurses with the DAISY Award.

The Professional Nurse Council at Christiana Care selects DAISY Award recipients using a blind selection process based on nominations from patients, families and all members of the Christiana Care team. All nurses — inpatient, outpatient and VNA — are eligible.