Congratulations to Becky Wilkowski, RN, from the Family Birth Center at Skagit Valley Hospital, for receiving the DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses!

This award is presented to nurses who have been nominated as outstanding role models for their clinical skills and for providing compassionate care.

Nurses who receive DAISY Awards consistently meet the following criteria:

• Interact with patients, families and staff in a professional and personable manner.
• Demonstrate excellent medical evaluation skills.
• Demonstrate excellent decision-making capabilities.
• Provide a consistent focus on meeting patient and family goals.
• Are thoughtful and caring in all situations.
• Work well with all members of the healthcare team.
• Demonstrate consistent use of the nursing process in patient care.
• Are excellent educators of patients and their families.
• Generate enthusiasm and energy towards meeting the challenges of nursing.

Read the nomination story below:

Becky was my labor and delivery nurse for the birth of my daughter. To this day, whenever I tell my birth story, Becky is one of the first names I mention, right alongside my OB, Dr. Savory. The two of them are the reason I was able to have the birth I wanted, in a place where I initially wasn’t even sure I wanted to be.

I began my labor at a birthing center, where I labored unmedicated for 17 hours before being transferred to Skagit Valley Hospital. By the time I arrived, I was at my absolute lowest—physically exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed and unsure of what would happen next. From the moment I walked into my labor room at 5 a.m. until 5 p.m., Becky was there for me every step of the way. Her presence was constant, steady and deeply reassuring. She didn’t just care for me clinically; she saw me, supported me and believed in me, even in moments when I stopped believing in myself.

Shortly after I arrived, I hit a point where I felt completely overwhelmed and disconnected. Becky came to me, took me by the shoulders, grounded me and told me it was going to be okay. She reminded me to breathe and brought me back to myself in a moment when I felt completely lost. That moment changed everything for me.

Becky was a fierce advocate for my birth plan. Even when I started to give up on it, she didn’t. She held onto it for me when I couldn’t hold onto it for myself. Alongside Dr. Savory, she advocated for me in ways I didn’t even know I needed. At one point, I was convinced I wasn’t progressing and broke down in tears. Becky immediately stepped in with calm determination, doing everything in her power to support my body and help me keep moving forward.

Because of Becky, I was able to have the birth experience I had hoped for. The only thing I wish had been different is that she wasn’t there for the exact moment my daughter entered the world—I truly wish she could have been.

Everything about Becky’s presence in my labor and delivery room made it okay. In the most intense, vulnerable and uncertain moments of my life, she was steady, compassionate and strong. I wish every mother going through labor, especially those who feel scared or unsure, could have a nurse like Becky by their side. She is extraordinary, and I will never forget the role she played in bringing my daughter into the world.

Congratulations, Becky! Thank you for your hard work and commitment to providing exceptional healthcare, always. We are proud to have you on our team at Skagit Regional Health!

To learn more about the DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses or to nominate a nurse at our organization, visit SkagitRegionalHealth.org/Daisy.