Uniti Med DAISY Award Given to Kimberly Morel
From a solo nurse in an Alaskan critical access hospital to anchoring a brand-new facility partnership, Kimberly has redefined what it means to be a Uniti Med travel nurse with purpose and to care without limits. Here dedication has earned her Uniti Med’s DAISY award for April 2026.
What is the DAISY Award?
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is a nationwide recognition program created by the DAISY Foundation, an organization founded in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died from complications of an autoimmune disease. Moved by the compassionate care Patrick received from his nurses, his family established the award to say “thank you” to nurses everywhere for the extraordinary difference they make in patients’ lives.
DAISY stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The award honors nurses who demonstrate outstanding clinical skill and compassionate care — going above and beyond what patients and families expect. Recipients are nominated by patients, families, and colleagues, making each honor a direct reflection of real-world impact. Learn more about the DAISY Foundation here.
Why Travel
Some nurses travel for the adventure. Some travel for the pay. Kimberly travels because of the work itself, the patient beside her, the team around her, the community she steps into that deserves her very best. It’s a philosophy that has earned her recognition from colleagues and facilities alike, and now it has earned her the Uniti Med DAISY award for April 2026.
Kimberly joined Uniti Med as a travel nurse in the summer of 2025, bringing with her a depth of experience across both acute care and long-term care settings. But what has set her apart isn’t just what she knows, it’s how she shows up.
Her first assignment placed her in rural Alaska, often as the sole nurse in a small critical access hospital. Rather than being daunted by the challenge, Kimberly leaned in asking thoughtful questions, learning building policies from the ground up, and building trust with the facility team before her first shift was even complete. She was quickly asked to extend her contract but chose to return home for the winter to be near her family, including her daughter, who is currently on her own LVN-to-RN journey. Like mother, like daughter.
Her second contract brought its own set of challenges — the demanding rhythms of a busy long-term care setting, high patient ratios, and limited support staff. Kimberly excelled anyway. Her recruiter noted that in their weekly calls, Kimberly never wavered in her commitment to going above and beyond for her patients, always remaining professional and focused on what mattered most.
“She remains professional and always maintains that she goes above and beyond for her patients’ needs. Kimberly is a true reflection of Uniti Med — working from the heart.” – Ally Beck, Recruiter
Brand New Partnership
Her third assignment may be her most impactful yet. Kimberly played a key role in helping Uniti Med secure a brand-new facility partnership, worked closely with management during the opening of a new wing, and has since been asked to extend. Facilities don’t just request her back; they advocate for her.
What makes Kimberly truly exceptional isn’t any single moment, it’s the consistency. Consistent care for her patients. Consistent communication with her recruiter. Consistent willingness to meet a new environment with curiosity rather than resistance. Across three very different assignments, in three very different settings, the feedback has been the same: Kimberly is extraordinary.
Congratulations, Kimberly. The Uniti Med DAISY Award recognizes nurses who embody compassionate, extraordinary care, and you have earned it in every corner of the country you’ve called home. We’re honored to have you as part of the Uniti Med family.
