“I was shocked and grateful,” UCLA nurse on winning national nurse of the year award

UCLA Health nurses have earned many notable achievements through the years.Now, another major accomplishment can be added to the list.   Melissa Reider-Demer, a nurse practitioner, was recently named nationalNurse of the Year by Press Ganey, a Boston-based health care organization that promotes clinical safety, patient experience and workforce engagement.In past years, UCLA nurses have been recognized for other awards, includingMagnet Status and the National Patient Safety Foundation and the DAISY FoundationTeam Award for Extraordinary Nurses.The Press Ganey award honors a nurse who demonstrates commitment to care innovation, transformation, and collaboration. Reider-Demer, who holds a doctorate in nursing practice and specializes in neurology at UCLA, was recognized for her work to improve the patient experience and contributions to her organization.In an interview, Reider-Demer shares what it means to win the award, how she got into neurology and career advice for new nurses.What was your reaction to winning Nurse of the Year?Honestly, I was surprised, shocked and grateful. For years, I have pioneered and championed many initiatives but was never certain if these efforts were fully embraced or understood. I am so grateful to my boss, Dr. Thomas Carmichael, the chair of the UCLA Department of Neurology, who not only believes in me but also took the time to nominate me. I will never forget this for rest of my career!What has been your role in improving the patient experience...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news