RN Hannah Warrick, a labor and delivery nurse at ECU North Hospital, has been honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
The DAISY Award recognizes nurses who demonstrate exceptional clinical skill, compassion and courage while providing outstanding care to patients and families.
Hannah was nominated for what the hospital describes as her extraordinary actions while caring for a laboring patient who had been in labor for more than 26 hours.
After the physician performed an artificial rupture of membranes and left the room, Hannah independently took the initiative to perform a cervical exam to confirm the assessment. During her exam, she immediately recognized that something was not right, noting blood and clots as well as concerning changes in the fetal heart tracing.
“Relying on her experience, critical thinking and strong commitment to patient safety, Hannah requested that the physician return to reexamine the patient,” the hospital said. “When her concerns were not addressed, Hannah took accountability for her patient’s safety and escalated the situation through the proper chain of command — first notifying her manager and then directly contacting the chief of obstetrics.”
Based on her assessment and clinical judgment, Hannah suspected placenta previa, a serious condition in which delivery through natural labor is unsafe and requires a cesarean section in all cases. Continuing labor would have placed both the mother’s and the baby’s lives at significant risk.
The situation was further complicated by a language barrier, as the patient was Spanish-speaking, increasing the vulnerability of both the patient and her family. “Despite these challenges, Hannah remained a steadfast advocate, ensuring that the patient received timely, safe and appropriate care.Because of Hannah’s vigilance, integrity and willingness to speak up, the lives of both the mother and her baby were saved.”
"Hannah’s actions exemplify the true essence of patient-centered care. She remained focused on her patients — both mother and baby — and combined clinical expertise with compassionate, bedside care to advocate for them,” said Andrea Chivers, vice president of Patient Care Services. “Her continued efforts and unwavering integrity in care delivery truly reflect what this award represents. She is very deserving of this recognition.”
The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that honors nurses for the extraordinary skill and compassionate care they provide every day. “Hannah’s actions serve as an inspiring example to her colleagues and highlight the culture of safety, teamwork and accountability at ECU Health North Hospital. ECU Health congratulates Hannah Warrick on this well-deserved honor and thanks her for the profound difference she made in the lives of a patient, a family and the entire care team.”
