Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center (EMRMC) is pleased to recognize and honor one of its nurses for her extraordinary patient care. Barbara Atwood, R.N., a nurse on Labor and Delivery Unit, was one of many nurses nominated for the DAISY Award. A resident of Casey County, Barbara has been caring for patients at EMRMC for 19 years.
She was nominated by a patient who said, “I first met Barb through the Breastfeeding Class offered through Ephraim McDowell as she taught the class. I then had the pleasure of seeing her again during my admission for a C-section in which she helped to deliver and care for my baby for multiple days. Barb is very deserving of the Daisy Award as she demonstrates care and compassion in everything she does. She was at the bedside in the operating room helping deliver my daughter and communicated very well with my husband at all times, especially in the beginning minutes/hours of my baby’s life to ensure he knew what was going on and what to expect, which I greatly appreciated. In those moments, it became evident that she loves her job and loves caring for newborns. She is kind, gentle, knowledgeable, and an extraordinary nurse. After birth and during my admission, I was stressed about breastfeeding and caring for my baby the best I could while still recovering myself. Barb was such a calming presence when I needed it the most. She spent a lot of time with me helping me learn how to breastfeed, answering all my questions, and providing the encouragement I needed when I was feeling stressed or frustrated. She checked in on my husband and I often and was always very kind, personable, and an excellent resource. She took all of our questions and concerns seriously and always reminded me that there are no stupid questions. During our stay, we had multiple family members and friends visit and they even made comments about how great Barb was. All of them were from out of town and said they hadn’t encountered a nurse as caring and helpful as Barb, and I totally agree. Barb was with us and supported us through the entire admission and on discharge she spent a great amount of time with us answering our questions about how to care for our new baby at home. She never seemed rushed and dedicated as much time to us as we needed, which meant a lot to me. Again, she provided words of affirmation and encouragement on the great job we were doing as new parents and to me as I continued to learn how to breastfeed. Her words truly were needed in those moments and I appreciate her thoughtfulness and how intentional she was at caring for our baby and ensuring we had all the resources we needed to be successful parents. While Barb has been practicing nursing for years, her passion and dedication to her patients is still very evident even after all this time. I am a better mom because of the interactions and guidance I received from Barb and feel that she should be recognized for her extraordinary service.”
Ephraim McDowell is proud to recognize nurses with the DAISY Award, a national program that honors the compassionate care and clinical excellence that nurses bring to their patients every day. Nomination forms for the DAISY Award are available at various locations throughout Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital, Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital and other Ephraim McDowell facilities.