Melinda Rawlings Is May DAISY Award Winner

Melinda Rawlings, BSN, RN, from the Methodist Hospital Medical/Surgical Unit, was honored at a recognition ceremony on Thursday, May 14, as the May DAISY Award winner for Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women's Hospital.

She was nominated for the honor by a patient's mother who described her son as a challenging patient after bariatric surgery and Melinda as a nurse who "knew how to meet his physical needs as well as his emotional needs."

The mother explained that pain management following her son's major surgery was difficult. She described her son as someone "used to being in charge and for the first time in his life was very vulnerable -- therefore quite unpleasant, angry and upset."

The mother deeply appreciated that Melinda understood her son and "met him where he was," staying calm, pleasant and instructive all the hours of the day and night. 

"She asked to be his nurse the second night, even though she knew it would be a challenge -- wow!" the mother wrote. "Melinda was stronger and wiser than he was at the moment and showed real empathy, tough love, leadership, compassion and professionalism at its best."

The DAISY Award is a nationwide program that rewards and celebrates extraordinary skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day. Nurses can be nominated by anyone, including patients, family members, physicians, supervisors or their peers.

 To nominate a nurse at Methodist Hospital or Methodist Women’s Hospital, visit www.bestcare.org/daisy.