ROME, Ga., Dec. 7, 2023 – Rebekah Smith's kindness, compassion and attention to details did not go unnoticed by the relative of a patient being cared for at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center's ICU.
The registered nurse, who earned a DAISY Award because of her commitment and dedication, was a source of comfort and care to both the patient, who was experiencing liver failure, and her family.
“From the very beginning she showed compassion, love, understanding, and comfort to not only our family, but most importantly, my aunt," wrote the woman who nominated Smith for the award, which is given to bedside nurses for providing outstanding care.
“Rebekah came in on a day when she wasn't even working to check on her, to cheer her improvement on and braided her hair. That meant so much to us. I am so happy to see that there are still wonderful people like this in this world that truly care about others like this," the patient's niece wrote. "Today, my aunt is recovered and I know for a fact Rebekah had so much to do with this."
Smith has been a teammate with Atrium Health Floyd for 2 years. She is a graduate of the nurse residency program, which provides new graduates with a dedicated team of nurse educators that helps them transition to registered nurse status.
“I am so happy to get this award," Smith said. “It shows that I am doing what I was called to do. It is really gratifying to know you are making a difference."
The family of Patrick Barnes established the DAISY Award after he died from an autoimmune disease while being treated in a Seattle hospital.
Sheila Bennett, senior vice president and chief of patient services at Floyd, presented Smith with a DAISY pin and a sculpture entitled “A Healer's Touch." The DAISY sculptures are hand-carved for the DAISY Foundation by members of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.
Smith and her teammates were also given cinnamon buns, a DAISY tradition because it was one of the few things Barnes could eat while he was hospitalized.