Conemaugh Memorial awards ICU nurse with DAISY Award

Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center recognized Rachel Mitchell, RN, with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

Mitchell is the second Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse from Conemaugh Memorial to be awarded the recognition. Nominated by a family member of a patient, Mitchell’s nomination praised her for her knowledge and compassion during a difficult time for the family.

“Her compassion, understanding, and patience with us was unbelievable. She was there for us in the shadows but always there exactly when we needed her. She made the process easier and assured us my dad would not be in pain.”

“She not only took care of my father, she took care of us as well. I will be forever grateful that she was there and was the one who helped us in our time of need.”

Kris O’Shea, Chief Nursing Officer of Conemaugh Memorial, praised Mitchell not only for her excellent skills and abilities, but for her caring disposition. “Being a nurse is about more than just doing a job, it’s about dedicating oneself to the service of others, promoting health and healing, and making a positive difference in the lives of individuals and communities. Rachel takes her role to a whole new level, providing compassionate care to all those she encounters in her work, not just her patients.”

“She sets an excellent example of what it means to be extraordinary. Going above and beyond for a family and being their comfort during a difficult time simply shows her kind and empathetic character. We are grateful to have her as part of the Conemaugh team and look forward to watching her thrive in her role in the ICU.” 

Mitchell has been a member of the Conemaugh team for 2 years. She began her career in the ICU upon graduating from Saint Francis University in 2022 where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. 

She takes great pride in working in the challenging environment that is the ICU with her reliable coworkers. “I found great purpose in being the person that is there for someone on what may possibly be the worse day of their life,” said Mitchell. 

“I would never be the nurse I am today without my coworkers, especially Nina Pollock and Angie Merriman, who showed me how to be a great nurse.”

Conemaugh Health System adopted the DAISY Award, an international program to recognize the outstanding work of our nurses across the health system, in 2023. Coworkers, providers, and patients may nominate a deserving nurse at Conemaugh Health System at Conemaugh.org/The-DAISY-Award.  

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation 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. For more information about the DAISY Award, visit DAISYFoundation.org.