CHERAW, S.C. — McLeod Health Cheraw is pleased to announce that Glenda Thomas, RN, and Kathryn McLain, RN, have been selected to receive the 2019 Palmetto Gold Award.

Overall, seventeen McLeod Health Registered Nurses were selected. These nurses represent McLeod Regional Medical Center, McLeod Health Cheraw, McLeod Health Clarendon, McLeod Health Darlington, McLeod Health Dillon, McLeod Health Loris and McLeod Health Seacoast. They join the ranks of the 182 previous McLeod Nurses who have received this outstanding award.

The Palmetto Gold Award is a program that was started by various nursing organizations throughout South Carolina as a platform to recognize nursing, and support nursing education with scholarship funds. Each year, employers from across a wide variety of South Carolina health care settings nominate outstanding nurses from their organizations to be considered as one of the 100 nurses honored with this prestigious award.

The nominators are asked to provide evidence of how the nominee demonstrated excellence to the profession by addressing the following criteria: promoting and advancing of the profession of nursing; displaying of caring and commitment to patients, families, and colleagues and demonstrating leadership by assisting others to grow and develop.

This is a competitive process and usually several hundred nominations are submitted with only 100 being selected. Each year, the competition for the Palmetto Gold Nurse Recognition Program is becoming more stringent as the number of nominations increases.

To select the 100 RNs, a team of six nurses from across the state participate in a blind review process. The nominees are not referred to by name or place of employment on the nomination sections seen by the judges so they are unaware of who they are or for which institution they work.

“McLeod Health Cheraw is very proud of our 2019 Palmetto Gold Award winners,” said Mib Scoggins, Hospital Administrator, McLeod Health Cheraw. “McLeod Nurses strive daily to deliver quality patient care and we are pleased that they have been honored by Palmetto Gold for the work they do. Kathryn and Glenda’s leadership makes a difference in the lives of so many in our community and within the hospital. We commend our nurses for their daily commitment and dedication to our patients.”

Glenda Thomas, RN, has over 22 years of nursing experience while working side-by-side with other medical professionals to fulfill quality care through evidence-based practice. For over fifteen of these years, Thomas has served as a preceptor for new staff at the hospital and is currently serving as the Stroke and Chest Pain Coordinator for McLeod Health Cheraw.

Including community education, Thomas is working to improve the cardiovascular health of those living in the region. She is active in the community serving as school treasurer for the local intermediate school for the past three years.

“Glenda has gone above and beyond in her commitment as a nurse over the years. She has a genuine willingness to serve in whatever area of the organization she is needed,” said Julie Jordan, Associate Vice President of Quality & Safety, McLeod Health Cheraw. “We are honored to have her here with us.”

Kathryn McLain, RN, has served as a registered nurse for over 12 years in Cheraw. Throughout her nursing career, she has gained valuable experience from her role as a Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Nurse to her current position on the Orthopedic Surgical Team in the Operating Room. Over the years, McLain has earned recognition including the Patient Choice Award for nursing in 2013, Nurse of the Year in 2012, McLeod Merit Award in 2015 and the McLeod Foundation Employee of the Year Award in 2016.

“Kathryn dedicates her time outside of the hospital to volunteerism as a board member at the local YMCA, as an organizer and participator in the Relay for Life and the American Heart Association Heart Walk, with the local food bank and the animal shelter,” said Traci Hubbard, Associate Vice President of Ancillary Services, McLeod Health Cheraw. “In her nursing role, Kathryn’s compassion allows her patients to feel comfortable with the treatment and goals that she sets for them.”

The recipients of the 2019 Palmetto Gold Award will be recognized at the Palmetto Gold Gala, April 27 in Columbia. To support the future of nursing, the proceeds from the Palmetto Gold Gala, are used to provide scholarships to each of the approved registered nursing programs in South Carolina. In 2008, the Renatta Loquist Graduate Nursing Scholarship was created to honor Mrs. Loquist, a member of the original Palmetto Gold committee and a leader in nursing in our state. This scholarship is for $2,000 and has been awarded each year. Since its inception, Palmetto Gold has awarded over $232,000 in nursing scholarships.

Contributed photo McLeod Health Cheraw nurses Glenda Thomas (left) and Kathryn McLain received the 2019 Palmetto Gold Award
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_2019-PG-Cheraw.jpgContributed photo McLeod Health Cheraw nurses Glenda Thomas (left) and Kathryn McLain received the 2019 Palmetto Gold Award

Contributed photo McLeod Health Cheraw nurses Glenda Thomas (left) and Kathryn McLain received the 2019 Palmetto Gold Award
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_2019-PG-Cherawc.jpgContributed photo McLeod Health Cheraw nurses Glenda Thomas (left) and Kathryn McLain received the 2019 Palmetto Gold Award

For the Daily Journal