Melanie Sweeney-Smolka Honored with DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses

Melanie Sweeney-Smolka, LPN, of ChristianaCare HomeHealth, received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in October 2020.

The DAISY nomination came from the daughter of a patient who described how Smolka was not only patient and caring with her hard-of-hearing father, but also incredibly supportive to her as a caregiver.

After her father went home with a pacemaker implant and adjustments to his medication, his daughter was concerned with his sudden lethargy and low blood pressure readings. She was unable to get through to his primary care physician. Then, Melanie arrived as his visiting nurse.

“Words cannot express how thankful I am to Melanie for assessing the situation promptly and for her ‘take charge’ attitude! I was very frightened for my dad, frustrated at my inability to get help, and her confidence in resolving it immediately calmed my worried mind,” the patient’s daughter wrote in her nomination.

“I owe her my father’s life, and for that I will always be abundantly grateful!!”

The Professional Nurse Council at ChristianaCare selects DAISY Award recipients using an anonymous process based on nominations from patients, families and all members of the ChristianaCare team. All nurses — inpatient, outpatient and ChristianaCare HomeHealth — are eligible.

Nominate a ChristianaCare nurse for a DAISY Award.