Family Tribute Turns Into Prestigious DAISY Group Award for Monmouth CCU
A simple thank you just didn’t feel like enough for one family at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus. During the most difficult hours of saying goodbye to their father, they found not just care, but genuine compassion and remarkable kindness from the Critical Care Unit (CCU) team. Their gratitude took shape as a DAISY Group Award nomination—an honor not just for one nurse, but for the entire care team led by Kathy Marino, the Director of Patient Care for the ICU and CCU.
What set this team apart? It went beyond monitoring vitals and administering medication. The family noticed how every nurse tuned into their needs, reacting quickly and sensitively to requests that had deep personal and cultural significance. As they faced their father’s final moments, the nursing staff made space—literally and figuratively—for the family to practice time-honored religious rites and experience the passing with dignity. The nomination underscored the staff’s “endless appreciation” for how the team balanced medical care with spiritual and emotional support.
CCU nurses didn’t just offer clinical expertise; they brought patience and gentle guidance. The family described how team members found quiet ways to help, whether that meant adjusting visiting policies or creating an atmosphere that made everyone, even young grandchildren, feel included and supported. Their willingness to “go above and beyond” turned an already challenging situation into something a little lighter, showing that empathy is as critical as any technical skill in healthcare.
Leadership Support and Legacy of Compassion
This recognition didn’t go unnoticed by Monmouth’s leadership. Dr. Phil Passes, Chief Administrative Officer, and Mabel LaForgia, Chief Nursing Officer, made sure to personally congratulate the entire CCU unit. The hospital’s leaders know that when a group wins a DAISY Group Award, it signals a team spirit—collaboration that lifts everyone up. Such awards help remind both staff and patients of the power of compassion at the bedside, especially when families are fragile and overwhelmed by loss.
The DAISY Foundation, which started after Patrick Barnes passed away due to complications from a little-known autoimmune disease, has grown into a global movement. It shines a spotlight on nurses who make a difference, often in moments that only a family might truly see. At Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, the CCU’s award tells a bigger story: on the toughest nights, when skill, heart, and understanding come together, a hospital can become a place of both healing and unforgettable kindness.
Moments like these—the kind that ripple out from a loved one’s hospital bed to family members, staff, and fellow patients—are what the DAISY Award was created to celebrate. Through their actions, the Monmouth CCU nurses revealed just how much difference a truly caring team can make, not just in medicine but in memories that last long after the hospital lights have faded.
May 13 2025 0
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