By Hannah Isenhour
SCC Communications
Aidan Chestnut, a recent Associate Degree Nursing graduate at Southeastern Community College, has been recognized for her extra efforts caring for patients.
Chestnut was awarded an Honorary Certificate of Nomination for The DAISY Award for “providing outstanding, compassionate care” during her Focused Client Care Experience, often referred to as a mentorship, at Columbus Regional Healthcare System (CRHS). Heather Robinson, manager of education at CRHS, and Tara Dew, nurse educator at CRHS, presented the certificate to Chestnut in SCC’s R-building on May 21.
DAISY, an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem, is an internationally-known award given in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. It was established in 1999.
“We wanted to recognize her, and she was one of two students nominated by a patient,” Robinson said. “While we don’t 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.”
Robinson said she loves recognizing anyone who goes above and beyond their official duties as a nurse and earns that seal of approval from a patient and their family members. Robinson explained that negativity gets too much attention, and that positivity needs a spotlight, too.
“Sometimes, we tend to focus on the bad things and not the good things,” Robinson said. “So, when there are good things, we need to celebrate them.”
Chestnut’s nomination for the award was based on her level of compassionate care to a patient at CRHS. Robinson was pleased with CRHS’s decision to hire Chestnut as a full-time nurse, and the DAISY Award nomination further reinforced that decision, she said.
Dew said that anyone can nominate a nurse for a DAISY Award. It is given four times per year at CRHS.
“I was lucky enough to get an amazing preceptor, Mrs. Amy Smith,” Chestnut said. “She pushed you, but it was like a good push. She pushed me to my limits, and I mean that in the best possible way. She just pushed me, you know, to do better.”
After getting over the shock of receiving an honorary DAISY Award, she said it was a “true honor.” Her mentorship experience at CRHS showed her “the good, the bad and the ugly” of a 12-hour shift on the fifth floor. Working in Med/Surg, Chestnut loved the variety of patient ages and types of care she would provide. She knew that CRHS was the best place to start her career.
“The number one thing was accessibility and being close to home,” Chestnut said. “And number two were the nurses I worked with because they were willing to help. That’s the kind of environment I want to be in where everyone supports each other and is very welcoming.”
Chestnut entered SCC’s ADN program in fall 2024 with a mission to help people. Turning someone’s bad day into a good day was Chestnut’s driving force for becoming a nurse. She chose SCC because of its proximity to her home in Aynor, S.C. Chestnut said that SCC’s rigorous ADN program was highly regarded among employers in the area, and she knew that SCC would give her the best chance of passing the NCLEX.
“I had her in class during her first semester, and she was very quiet but very humble,” said Tammy Faulk, SCC’s Director of Nursing. “When she got this award, I knew she was a superstar in caring for patients. I have no doubt that she will do excellent on her NCLEX because she’s done so well in our program.”
Once she gets work experience and establishes her career as a registered nurse, Chestnut has two routes planned: nurse practitioner or CRNA. She has not decided when or where to further her education, but she said it is in her future.
“We are glad that she chose Southeastern, and these are the students we strive to produce – students who are ultimately recognized by the people who are living in our community for doing a good job,” said Jessica Hill, Dean of Nursing and Healthcare Training. “Because that’s what matters to me as a leader at this school. We are producing students who will take good care of the people living in this community.”
Chestnut’s certificate reads “Thank you for making a difference,” and it was signed by Megan Sargent, Chief Nursing Officer at CRHS.
Interested in a career in healthcare like Aidan Chestnut? Click here to learn more about SCC’s nursing and healthcare training programs!
