Pawtucket, RI – Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island recently honored
Shannon McKeon, RN, of North Attleboro, MA, a nurse on Wood 6, with the
Daisy Award for November. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s
program to recognize excellence in nursing.
McKeon has been a nurse at Memorial for 11 years. Patients and fellow
staff members reported that she embodies the outstanding qualities of an
extraordinary DAISY nurse. “Shannon is the kind of nurse you would want
to take care of you. No matter how her shift is going, she always smiles
when entering a patient’s room and gives them her full attention. She is
very accommodating with her schedule to meet the needs of the hospital.
She can adapt to the unit she is assigned to and the staff enjoy working
with her,” said a fellow staff member.
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, 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 means of thanking nurses for
making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
Said Bonnie Barnes, president and co-founder of the DAISY Foundation, “When Patrick
was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care
nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom
recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Memorial
Hospital of Rhode Island are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The
DAISY Award.”
McKeon is the first recipient of the newly created DAISY award at Memorial Hospital.
Anyone can nominate an extraordinary nurse at Memorial by submitting an application
online or in person. Completed forms can be placed in a nomination box located at
the Information Desk in the main lobby of the hospital and in the nursing office in
the Sayles Building, second floor. An electronic version is available on the
hospital website at www.mhri.org/daisy-award.
Photo -
The Memorial Hospital group picture from left to right: Donna Horrocks, director of
professional development; Eileen Dobbing, SVP patient care services/CNO and her
granddaughter Emily; Eric Hindy, RN, Wood 6; Elaine Joyal patient care director;
Michelle Cotton, RN, continuing care; Jeannine Shaw, RN, Hodgson 6; Donna Dupuis,
Hodgson 6 nurse manager/Wood 6 interim nurse manager; Shannon McKeon, RN, Wood 6 and
DAISY Award honoree; Nancy Amedee, Wood 6 assistant nurse manager; Marla Goulart,
Hodgson 5 nurse manager; Alisha Mal, Emergency Department nurse manager.
