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WASHINGTON, NC – ECU Health Beaufort Hospital is proud to announce that Sam Duncan, RN, from the 2 East surgical unit, has been honored with the DAISY Award for her exceptional care and compassion. Sam was nominated by a patient’s family member who shared a heartfelt story of how she made a significant difference during a challenging time.

During the patient’s hospitalization, Sam went above and beyond to provide compassionate and informative care. Despite not being assigned to the patient that night, she stepped in to clarify the care plan and answer the family’s questions with patience and clarity. Her calm and caring demeanor eased their fears and highlighted the profound impact of genuine compassion and professionalism.

“We are incredibly proud to recognize Sam Duncan, RN, with the DAISY Award. Sam’s dedication to providing compassionate and exceptional care truly embodies the values we uphold at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital,” said Dr. Juli Forbes, vice president of patient care services. “Her ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and their families is a testament to her professionalism and heartfelt commitment to nursing. We are honored to have Sam as part of our team and celebrate her well-deserved recognition.”

The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that celebrates the skillful and compassionate care nurses provide every day. It was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who passed away from complications of the autoimmune disease ITP in 1999. The Barnes family deeply appreciated the care and compassion shown to Patrick and his entire family during his hospitalization, and they founded the DAISY Foundation to publicly express their gratitude to nurses.

Duncan, who earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from Beaufort County Community College in 2021, joined ECU Health Beaufort Hospital after graduation. Her dedication to her patients and her extraordinary care has made a lasting impact on those she serves.

ECU Health recognizes DAISY Award winners each quarter. Sam’s colleagues, hospital leaders, and family surprised her with the DAISY Award Nurse certificate, pin, and a hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture known as “A Healer’s Touch.”

About ECU Health

ECU Health is a mission-driven, 1708-bed academic health care system serving more than 1.4 million people in 29 eastern North Carolina counties. The not-for-profit system is comprised of more than 14,000 team members, nine hospitals and a physician group that encompasses over 1,100 academic and community providers practicing in over 185 primary and specialty clinics located in more than 110 locations. The flagship ECU Health Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center, and ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital serve as the primary teaching hospitals for the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine share a combined academic mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina through patient care, education and research. For more information, visit ECUHealth.org.

About the DAISY Foundation

The DAISY Foundation was co-founded in 1999 by Tena and Bonnie Barnes in memory of their husband and son, Patrick Barnes. During his illness and subsequent death at the young age of 33, Patrick’s family witnessed the incredibly compassionate care of the nurses that cared for him. To honor Patrick’s memory, the Barnes family knew that first and foremost, they needed to say “Thank You” for the gifts nurses give their patients and families every day, so they created The DAISY Award for extraordinary nurses. An acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, the DAISY Foundation is now an international program recognizing clinical expertise and compassion. Learn more at www.daisyfoundation.org.