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Aidan Chestnut, a recent听Associate Degree听Nursing graduate at 蘑菇tv, was given an Honorary Certificate of Nomination for The DAISY听Award for 鈥減roviding outstanding, compassionate care鈥� during her听Focused Client Care Experience, often referred to as a mentorship,听at Columbus Regional Healthcare System. Heather Robinson,听Manager of Education at CRHS, and Tara Dew, Nurse Educator at CRHS, presented the certificate to Chestnut in听蘑菇tv鈥檚听R-building on May 21.听

鈥淲e wanted to recognize her, and she was one of two students nominated by a patient,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淲hile we听don鈥檛听have a true student platform for the DAISY Award, we felt like she deserved to be recognized for the contribution she made. It is truly remarkable.鈥�听

Robinson said听she loves听recognizing anyone听who听goes听above and beyond听their official duties听as a nurse and earns that seal of approval from a patient and their family members. Robinson explained that negativity gets too much听attention,听and that positivity needs a spotlight, too.听

鈥淪ometimes, we tend to focus on the bad things and not the good things,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淪o, when there are good things, we need to celebrate them.鈥�听

Chestnut鈥檚 nomination for the award was based on her level of compassionate care to a patient at CRHS. Robinson was pleased with CRHS鈥檚 decision to hire Chestnut as a full-time nurse, and the DAISY Award nomination further reinforced that decision, she said.听

Dew said that anyone can nominate a nurse for a DAISY Award.听It听is听given听four times per year at CRHS.听听

鈥淚 was lucky enough to get an amazing preceptor, Mrs. Amy Smith,鈥� Chestnut said. 鈥淪he听pushed you, but it was like a good push. She pushed me to my limits, and I mean that in the best听possible way. She just pushed me, you know, to do better.鈥�听

After getting over the shock of听receiving听an honorary DAISY Award,听she said it was a 鈥渢rue honor.鈥� Her mentorship experience at CRHS showed her 鈥渢he good, the bad and the ugly鈥� of a听12-hour shift听on the fifth floor. Working in Med/Surg,听Chestnut听loved the variety听of patient ages and types of care she would provide.听She knew that CRHS was the best听place听to start her career.听

鈥淭he number one thing was accessibility and being close to home,鈥� Chestnut said. 鈥淎nd number two听were听the nurses I worked with because they were willing to help.听That鈥檚听the kind of environment I want to be in听where everyone supports each other and is very welcoming.鈥�听

Chestnut entered 蘑菇tv鈥檚 ADN program in fall 2024 with a mission to help people. Turning someone鈥檚听bad day听into a good day听was Chestnut鈥檚 driving force for becoming a nurse. She chose 蘑菇tv because of its proximity to her home in Aynor, S.C. Chestnut said that 蘑菇tv鈥檚 rigorous ADN program was highly regarded among employers in the area, and she knew that 蘑菇tv would give her the best chance of passing the NCLEX.听

鈥淚 had her in class during her first semester, and she was very quiet but very humble,鈥� said听Tammy Faulk, 蘑菇tv鈥檚 Director of Nursing. 鈥淲hen she got this award, I knew she was a superstar听in caring for patients. I have no doubt that she will do excellent on her NCLEX because听she鈥檚听done so well in our program.鈥�听

Once she gets work experience and听establishes听her career as a registered nurse, Chestnut听has two routes planned: nurse practitioner or CRNA.听She has not听decided听when or where to further her education, but she said it is in her future.听听

鈥淲e are glad that she chose Southeastern, and these are the students we strive to produce听鈥� students who are ultimately recognized by the people who are living in our community for doing a good job,鈥� said Jessica Hill, Dean of Nursing and Healthcare Training. 鈥淏ecause听that鈥檚听what matters to me as a leader at this school.听We are producing students who will take听good care听of the people living in this community.鈥�听

DAISY, an acronym for听Diseases听Attacking the听Immune听SYstem, is an internationally known award given in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. It was听established听in 1999.听Chestnut鈥檚听certificate reads 鈥淭hank you for making a difference,鈥� and it was signed by Megan Sargent, Chief Nursing Officer at CRHS.听

Interested in a career in healthcare like Aidan Chestnut? Click here to learn more about 蘑菇tv鈥檚 nursing and healthcare training programs!听