By Lynne Cope Hummell
Special to The Island News
When Andrea Farr, RN was called into work on a recent day off, she didn’t hesitate.
Farr is an obstetrics nurse at Beaufort Memorial Hospital and loves her job. Recently, she has been working on the side with colleagues on a project to improve patient care quality and safety. So on the Thursday after Christmas, she arrived at the OB unit expecting to work on the project with Jodie Cunningham, RN, MSN, a clinical instructor at the hospital.
Cunningham did meet her at the nurse’s station. But, as Farr went to sign in, Cunningham told her – in front of a crowd of executives and peers surrounding them – that the crowd was there for her, as she had been chosen to receive a DAISY Award, a special recognition for extraordinary nurses who deliver exceptional patient care.
“I was shocked,” Farr said. “At first, I was truly speechless. I gasped, covered my mouth and said, ‘I don’t believe it.’”
During the award presentation, Farr 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.
“I was truly honored by the presence of past and present coworkers, directors and leaders that came to support me,” she said. “It’s very humbling and rewarding to have received this award.”
Her colleagues weren’t surprised.
“Andrea consistently receives accolades from patients,” said her supervisor, Tiffany Washington, RN, BSN, Director of the Collins Birthing Center at BMH.
The patient who nominated Farr for the DAISY Award said that she “went above and beyond in providing compassionate care while I was laboring with my first child. Her competence, positive attitude, and calm demeanor made my birth experience peaceful so I could enjoy the most profound moment of delivering a child. Andrea will forever be included in my birth story.”
Washington quoted another patient from earlier in the year who said, “She was attentive, encouraging, and caring. She was in my room every 30 minutes to help me reposition and diligently monitored my pain. I had the best possible birthing experience, thanks to her.”
In fact, Cunningham noted that it is typical of Farr to go “above and beyond.”
“She listens to her patients and takes their preferences into consideration,” Cunningham said. “She does this by spending quality time with them at the bedside during her shift.”
Farr also “willingly takes on additional roles within the department, including the charge nurse role,” said Cunningham, also citing the patient safety project as an example.
Farr began her obstetrics journey in 2019 as a postpartum nurse, and the following year began training in labor and delivery.
“I’ve furthered my skills by independently pursuing certifications in maternal and neonatal health as well as advanced lactation,” she said. “I fell in love with the intimacy of each experience and the connection I can develop with each family.”
Farr is determined to make the labor and delivery process as smooth as possible for both mother and child.
“As much as people think labor is a natural occurrence, sometimes a baby’s pathway into this world can be tricky,” Farr said. “By providing a position change or a coping mechanism, I can help relieve pain or help a baby come into this world sooner.”
When asked, “What do you think you did for the nominating patients that was beyond your normal type of care?” Farr replied, “Nothing! That’s the great thing. The patients who nominated me just saw the passion I have for everyone; they just put it into words.”
Anyone can nominate a Beaufort Memorial nurse for the honor. Applications are available throughout the hospital and can also be found at BeaufortMemorial.org/Daisy.
