From staff reports
It’s one of the most noble pursuits in medicine – nursing – and one exceptional RN at Beaufort Memorial has earned The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, a prestigious international honor reserved for RNs who demonstrate outstanding clinical skill and compassionate care for patients and their families.
Taylor Robinson, MSN, RN-APN, a veteran nurse who takes great care in ensuring her patients’ comfort, received The DAISY Award May 24 in a surprise ceremony with hospital leadership and ICU colleagues. Robinson spearheaded the implementation of a new Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) in the intensive care unit (ICU).
“The CPOT is used to help nurses and clinical staff assess pain of patients in the ICU who are on a ventilator or otherwise unable to report their pain,” explained clinical pharmacist Brian Oyler, who worked with Robinson on the implementation at Beaufort Memorial.
The CPOT allows adjustments to be made to the patient’s pain control medications to ensure they remain comfortable throughout their recovery.
“Taylor was instrumental in the development and roll out of this protocol,” said Oyler, who nominated Robinson for The DAISY Award. “She spent her own time learning the assessment tool and volunteered to be the department champion. She then educated the department staff on the importance of this new tool, how to successfully use it and why it makes a difference in the care of our patients.”
During the award presentation, with her fiancé Adam Kajfez at her side, Robinson received a hand-carved sculpture titled “A Healer’s Touch,” along with a bouquet of daisies. Created in 1999 by a Seattle couple as a way to honor the nurses who took care of their dying son, The DAISY Award has since been adopted by healthcare facilities all over the world.
While her dedicated efforts in helping to roll out the new tool might have won her The DAISY
Award, it is her dedication to her patients that has made Robinson a star in the ICU and beyond.
“Taylor returned during the busiest times of COVID and has been a great asset ever since,” said Director of Critical Care Colleen Duerr MBA, BSN, RN. “She is seen by her peers as an exceptional nurse, a great mentor, and a strong patient advocate. Taylor loves to be involved in projects that can improve patient care.”
“She never hesitates to jump in when a coworker or a patient is in need,” added Oyler. “She is a great resource to everyone.”
As for Robinson, she was humbled by the recognition.
“It was a huge surprise and I’m still in awe,” she said. “It was very special. I started crying when Brian started talking during the award ceremony, just hearing those kind words and knowing that people do appreciate all the work our nurses do.”
Anyone can nominate a Beaufort Memorial nurse for The DAISY Award. Applications are available
throughout the hospital and at BeaufortMemorial.org/DAISY.
