Merit Health Announces Nursing Excellence Awards

Merit Health today announced that five nurses in the Jackson metro area have been selected to receive its Nursing Excellence Award.

This peer-nominated award, created in honor of 2020 being the “Year of the Nurse,” and in recognition of the critical role nurses have played in treating patients throughout the COVID pandemic, was open to qualifying RNs and LPNs working in a direct patient care position who consistently demonstrate characteristics synonymous with nursing excellence.

The following nurses were chosen for the critical roles they have played in treating patients throughout the COVID pandemic:

Robert Myers, RN, CEN, Emergency Department  - Merit Health Central

Rodney Daniels, RN, ICU - Merit Health Madison

Jennifer O’Neal, BSN, RN, Emergency Department -  Merit Health Rankin 

Loretta Rufus, RN, CMSRN, Med Surg - Merit Health River Oaks

Becky Humphreys, RN,  BSN, CNBN, Breast Patient Navigator - Merit Health Woman’s Hospital

“Merit Health is fortunate to have many outstanding nurses like these among its ranks. Nurses who deliver exemplary care, compassion and service, who understand the importance of teamwork and mentoring others, who can lead in times of crises, and who are true champions of promoting healthcare in our community,” said Barry Moss, CEO, Merit Health Jackson Market.  

“With so much focus this year on the selfless efforts of front line heroes like these nurses, we are pleased to acknowledge the important contributions of our nursing professionals.”

In addition to receiving the Nursing Excellence Award itself, the award winners received a quintessential book on nursing, written by Florence Nightingale in 1859, that remains relevant to today’s modern nursing attitudes and skills.