Loretta Walls Honored With DAISY Leader Award for Extraordinary Nurses
'Loretta is available and empowering ... two of the best qualities a manager can have'
Loretta Walls, BSN, RN, Gero-BC, ChristianaCare HomeHealth nurse manager, has been recognized with the DAISY Leader Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
“I am so fortunate to be able to help my patients and support my nurses,” said Walls. “Being able to lead my team through good times and challenging times is so meaningful to me. Serving as nurse manager has been the most fulfilling.”
Walls began working for ChristianaCare HomeHealth 31 years ago as a field clinician when the service was known as the Visiting Nurse Association. Since then, she has progressed to the roles of case manager, clinical coordinator, clinical educator and most recently a clinical nurse manager. For the last seven years, she has helped support, guide and mentor her team of nurses.
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“Loretta is available and empowering,” said Melanie Sweeney-Smolka, LPN, a caregiver on Walls’ team who nominated her. “These are two of the best qualities a manager can have.”
Walls had recently helped guide Sweeney-Smolka through a patient emergency during a phone call with him. Together, they were able to direct the patient to call 911 and receive emergency care at the Christiana Hospital Emergency Department.
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“I knew something had to be done, and Loretta gave me the tools! A few days later,” said Sweeney-Smolka, “I received a call from a family member of the patient stating that because of our diligence, his life was saved. WE saved him!
“I am so proud and grateful that Loretta is my manager,” said Sweeney-Smolka.
Walls is a certified specialist in OASIS, a home health assessment tool, and also is certified in gerontology.
Meeting with patients where the live and helping them to thrive makes providing care in the home extremely rewarding, Walls said. “Being able to see a patient overcome their health battles and come out on the other side is the greatest gift,” she said.
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.