(L-R) Daren Relph, CEO, Jeralee McCarty, RN, Clayton Merritt, RN, Tena Barnes Carraher; Jill Henkle, RN.
Clayton has been with the Wayne County Hospital and Clinic System since 2016. That same year, he completed his nursing education at Indian Hills Community College with an Associates of Arts & Sciences Degree, and passed his registered nurse (RN) licensure examination. He is a valued member of the hospital med/surg nursing floor team caring for inpatients. He also serves the city of Seymour as a volunteer firefighter, first responder and council member.
Some of the highlights from his nomination include: Clayton gave high quality care to my friend in her final days. The compassion, comfort to her and her friends, with his humor and soft spoken southern Iowa way, was consistent each time. She trusted Clayton with her care; she enjoyed his time with her, helping and assisting her in her final days. The ability that Clayton showed was way beyond his years.
The DAISY Award is in recognition of a young man, Patrick Barnes, whose death at the age of 33 was related to an auto-immune disorder that took his life in just eight weeks. His family was so impressed with the level of knowledge, expertise and compassion they experienced with the nursing staff that they wanted to establish a forum to provide ongoing recognition of the extraordinary work nurses do every day. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.
Honorees, family members, Board members CEOs and Nurse Execs gathered for the celebration that included lunch and keynote speaker, Tena Barnes Carraher. A founding member of the DAISY Award and the widow of Patrick Barnes, Mrs. Barnes Carraher, shared her personal insights to the meaning of this very special recognition. Joining Clayton at the award ceremony from Wayne County Hospital and Clinic System were Daren Relph, CEO, Jeralee McCarty, BSN, RN, Med/Surg Director, and Jill Henkle, RN, Director of Obstetrics.
Nominations for DAISY Award recipients can be submitted by their peers, physicians, patients and families and other staff and administrators. Clayton exemplifies everything this award represents and we extend our heartfelt congratulations