Registered nurse (RN) Melanie Weaver from Blount Memorial Hospital’s 4-south floor has earned the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®, becoming the hospital’s ninth DAISY Award recipient since partnering with The DAISY Foundation™ in 2020 to acknowledge extraordinary and compassionate care in the field of nursing.
Weaver is the hospital’s first DAISY Award winner from 4-south. She was presented her award, along with a DAISY pin, a certificate commending her as an “Extraordinary Nurse” and a Healers Sculpture on Tuesday, Jan. 23. She also became the latest nurse to add her name to Blount Memorial’s banner of DAISY recipients.
She was nominated by a family member of a patient who passed away for the stand-out care she provided him. “Melanie was my sweet father-in-law’s daytime nurse for several days up until his death in mid-June. She was his favorite nurse and ours, too. She joked with him and made him feel like every day was going to be a good day. She has certainly chosen the proper profession and we appreciate her helpfulness and thoughtfulness in helping us during one of our lowest moments in life,” Weaver’s DAISY nomination read.
“Melanie is an extraordinary nurse who practices from her heart,” said Blount Memorial chief nursing officer Joe Newsome. “She takes time with her patients and their family members to best understand their needs and makes sure they feel valued and cared for. Melanie is a valuable part of our nursing team, and we are stronger because of her caring attitude,” he added.
Blount Memorial’s association with The DAISY Foundation™ gives patients, family members, co-workers, visitors and colleagues the opportunity to nominate a nurse for the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care he or she provides. Award recipients are chosen by a committee at Blount Memorial to receive The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®. Awards are presented throughout the year.
DAISY Award nomination forms are available throughout the hospital and online here.
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. 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. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System). The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
