Vidant Beaufort Hospital’s Nursing Supervisor Donna Deans, a true patient advocate and nurse of over 30 years, received the Juanita Jackson Award for Nursing Excellence, recognizing her dependability, “upbeat” personality and passion for nursing.

The award was given in accordance with National Nurses Week, said Pam Shadle, manager of Marketing and Public Relations. Also in attendance when Deans received the award was Vice President of Patient Care Services Lou Montana-Rhodes, who said Deans is an exceptional nurse and very deserving to receive the award.

According to information from Vidant Health, Deans’ nomination came from co-workers and stated “Donna has been a true patient advocate and strives no less than excellence when it comes to ensuring patient satisfaction…she is the epitome of what a great nurse should be: dependable, caring, compassionate, kind, a good listener, but most importantly, above all she is an excellent nurse. It’s easy to see that nursing is not her job, but it’s her passion.”

“There are so many wonderful nurses at that hospital,” Deans said. “I was very honored to receive the award. I used to work with Ms. Juanita Jackson years ago and she was precious,” Deans said. “She was the sweetest lady in the world so I feel amazingly honored to receive it.”

Deans said she “cut her teeth” at Beaufort County Hospital — now, Vidant Beaufort Hospital — the first 12 years of her nursing career, where she works today. However, her journey has taken her to other positions and institutions in the field.

“When I first worked there, there were, mostly, LPNs in charge,” Deans said, “and I listened and tried to be as humble as I could because they could tell me a lot. I knew that they knew more about nursing than I ever could just from going to school.”

Through a job offer, Deans left Beaufort and moved on to become a surgical nurse at Craven Regional Surgical Center. She continued to explore other pathways in her field through job offers, serving in several different capacities, including as a clinical nurse manager for a pain management center, an ophthalmic medical assistant, home health, a nursing manager for a plastic surgery practice and even as a OSHA/HIPAA consultant. In 2011, she came back to Beaufort to be able to go back to a 12-hour-shift working schedule and to be more available for the newest member of her family — her grandson.

Deans said she loves working at the hospital and enjoys the comradery between she and her fellow nurses and hospital staff.

“I love the hospital,” Deans said. “I get to see every unit. I get to help in every unit. I try to do what I can. I don’t mind helping them. I love them and they seem to think a lot of me. Everything I’ve done has been fulfilling and has taught me a lot and a made me a better person.”