Kim Peek, RN Named Daisy Award Winner in Hot Springs

Nurses are caregivers by trade, however not all readily realize that those in need of care may sometimes be our own coworkers. Kim Peek, RN knows this, and her willingness and readiness to help coworkers is one reason she was named the Daisy Award Winner in Hot Springs for December 2017.

I met this nurse several years ago. She was an ICU nurse and I was a phlebotomist working my way  through nursing school. We took different paths, but stayed in touch. I graduated from RN school last December. I spent the last year of nursing school praying and asking God to show me where he wanted e to be. One day I got a message form this nurse telling me I should come to CHI. I got the go ahead from God, signed up for the RNRP program and here I am. I matched to a unit where this nurse got to train me and continues to be my mentor.

With God there are no accidents. This nurse leads me, encourages me and is always there for me when I need her. Even when she is busy, she will stop what she is doing, listen to my concerns and offer help, wisdom and guidance. There has been so many times I have been discouraged and wanted to throw in the towel, but this nurse is always there to offer me encouragement and help me regain my focus. She knows this is what the Lord has called both of us to do.

She goes above and beyond for her coworkers and her patients. She is wise and knowledgeable and is our “go to” person for help and instruction. She never passes the buck or leaves things undone. Her patients are blessed by her love, compassion and kindness. She takes care of the whole patient – heart, mind, body, and spirit. she is her patient’s advocate. She is sweet, compassionate and kind-hearted, but never poke a mama bear with a stick. She will always fight for what is true, right and best for her coworkers and patients.

There is a saying among nurses that, “Nurses eat their young.” I have found this to often be true. There are too many veteran nurses that do not care about helping new nurses meet their potential. The ones that do are rare gems in the field of nursing. I think we are blessed to have many gems on my unit, but this nurse shines a little brighter than the rest.

The DAISY Award was established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at 33 of ITP, an auto-immune disease. The Barnes Family was awestruck by the clinical skills, caring and compassion of the nurses who cared for Patrick, so they created this national award to say thank you to nurses everywhere.

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