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Nurse receives award for extraordinary work by Heather Woolwine Public Relations It would be difficult to find someone who believes that any nursing job is an easy one. However, many of those in health care realize that it takes a special kind of nurse to care for psychiatric patients and their challenges.   As the colleagues and co-workers of the most recent DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses winner Alison Meeks, R.N., BICU, gathered to congratulate her on the award, each murmur and comment echoed one thought—Meeks’ upbeat and can-do attitude not only inspires her patients, but also those who work around her.   The DAISY Award is given monthly to an MUSC nurse who embodies the efforts and vast knowledge required of a nurse in today’s health care system. Created by the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation to recognize nurses throughout the country, the award is co-sponsored by Sandpiper Retirement Community, a continuum of care retirement community in Mount Pleasant.   As Meeks recovered from the shock of coming in for a staff meeting but instead becoming the nurse of the hour, she tearfully looked around the room at her coworkers, “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all of you. I’m lucky to work with such a great team,” she said.   Meeks’ nomination commended her for always arriving at work with a smile and always ready and willing to tackle the day, whatever it may bring. It continued, “She does not care whether she is the charge nurse or the med nurse. Foremost on her agenda is the welfare of all patients-—that each patient receives the care that he or she deserves.”   Cited Meek's work ethic and the willingness to drop paperwork duties to come to the aid of a patient, her colleagues commended her ability to remain calm on the outside, despite feeling the anxiety associated with the knowledge that paperwork can pile up. The nomination concluded, “She has all the right words to say to make anyone feel better about her or himself. Her compassion and empathy to all is outstanding.”   All DAISY Award winners receive an African Shona Tribe sculpture entitled, “A Healer’s Touch,” a framed certificate, a daisy bouquet and a DAISY Award pin. The DAISY Foundation also provides cinnamon rolls for all the nurses in the winner’s unit. MUSC is among 50 medical facilities honoring nurses with the DAISY Award. This is one initiative of the foundation whose overall goal is to help fight diseases of the immune system.     Friday, Dec. 15, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.