McLeod Nurse Taylor Curtis was named the November DAISY Award Recipient for McLeod Regional Medical Center on November 19, 2018. Curtis was nominated by Heather Kight for her extraordinary care and compassion.

To recognize those Nurses at McLeod Regional Medical Center who are true examples of Nursing Excellence, patients, family members and co-workers may nominate nurses for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

“My mom recently came to McLeod with severe acute pancreatitis and had to undergo emergency surgery as she was becoming septic,” recalls Kight. “We were told due to the severity and emergent need for the surgery that she would come back to the unit intubated and on the ventilator. During the first week of care, Taylor became her nurse. For some reason, Taylor bonded well with me and my dad from the beginning. As soon as she saw me in the unit for a visit, she stopped what she was doing to update me on the night before and plans for that day.

“Mom was on the ventilator for two and a half weeks,” continued Kight. “When mom was finally extubated, Taylor was there, and we hugged like she was a part of the family. Her compassion during the care of my mom cannot be topped. Her true calling as a nurse shined bright.”

About the DAISY Nursing Award
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, California, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique way of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

Nurses may be nominated for their strong clinical skills and the compassionate care they provide. Nomination forms are available on each nursing unit at McLeod Regional Medical Center or can be found at www.McLeodNursing.org.

Recipients of the DAISY Award are chosen by the DAISY committee, led by nurses at McLeod Regional Medical Center. Awards are given throughout the year at presentations in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” The honoree is also given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.