Irene Ramos-Klecha

Irene Ramos-Klecha, RN, MSN Institute for Maternal-Fetal Health Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, California

Irene Ramos-Klecha, RN, MSN (Institute for Maternal-Fetal Health), was honored as The DAISY Award winner for the month of April in a ceremony on April 13.

Described by a colleague as someone who “exemplifies kindness, compassion, teamwork, commitment to her profession and an unwavering sense of professionalism that cannot be adequately described,” Irene is highly respected by her colleagues and develops special bonds with the patients and families for whom she cares.

A colleague noted in the nomination form that Irene’s job “puts her in the position to support couples who have just received the news that the baby they are carrying in the womb has multiple and most-often life-threatening anomalies. Not only because she is bicultural, but because of who she is, Irene is able to offer comfort that few others would be able to offer. She takes these broken hearts into her arms and holds them and nurtures them in whatever way they can receive her gifts.”

Irene’s co-workers arranged for the surprise to occur in the middle of a scheduled meeting. Irene looked up to see her husband walking through the door and a smile spread across her face as Mary Dee Hacker, RN, MBA, VP Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, made the announcement of her win.

Each month in numerous hospitals and medical facilities around the country, Award recipients are chosen by their nurse administrators, peers, physicians, patients and families to receive this honor.  More than 3,000 nurses already have received The DAISY Award.

Since every nurse who receives The DAISY Award reminds us that her/his entire team is deserving of recognition and that it takes a team to provide great patient care, all the nurses and staff in the recipient's unit are treated to Cinnabon® cinnamon rolls at each presentation. Every DAISY nurse also is presented with a daisy plant, a certificate, a special DAISY Award pin and a “Healer’s Touch” statue, handmade by artisans in Zimbabwe. Each statue is a work of art, much like each of our DAISY winners!