Brooke Hurst, RN, was recognized with the April DAISY Award on Thursday, April 29, for an extraordinary act of heroism last winter when she came to the aid of a young family in dire need of emergency help.
Published: April 29, 2015
A few months ago, the Medical/Surgical Pavilion Nurse was on her way into work on a snowy winter morning when she saw tail lights in the middle of the road and pulled over to see what was going on.
What she discovered was a helpless young family in desperate distress. Their infant child had stopped breathing.
“There was a mother screaming for help with an infant on her lap. Brooke performed CPR on this baby until EMS arrived,” said Sarah Coker, Assistant Department Manager of 7 South-Medical/Surgical Pavilion.
Sadly, despite everyone’s emergency efforts the baby did not survive.
“Brooke had a nine-month-old at home. She was able to drive to work but ‘lost’ it as the shock of the situation hit her when she got to the floor,” said Coker. “She is an amazingly strong woman and a genuine nurse.”
Fellow Caregivers echoed those sentiments.
“We love to work with Brooke here on 7 South,” said Irina S. Kemp, RN, who nominated her for the award. “She is a responsible and caring Charge Nurse who constantly sets an example of good team work.”
Hurst was recognized for her compassion and courage with the DAISY Award in a ceremony held April 29.
DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, and the DAISY Award is a national program created in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died in 1999 of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura, or ITP at 33 years old. His family was overwhelmed by the skillful and amazingly compassionate Nurses who cared for Pat, and the DAISY Foundation and Award were created as an expression of their gratitude.
The DAISY Award is a way to recognize and make visible the contribution and value of Nurses wherever nursing is practiced.
Brooke received a certificate, a DAISY pin to wear at work and beautiful serpentine stone sculpture carved by the artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. The sculpture depicts the embracing relationship Nurses have with their Patients.
