Kristen Beckman, BSN, RN, C-EFM

I am honored to nominate Kristen for a DAISY Award for the extraordinary care she provided my baby and me during one of the most traumatic moments of my life. During the delivery of my child, what should have been a joyful experience welcoming her to the world quickly became frightening and uncertain. Amid the chaos and fear, Kristen was calm, steady, and incredibly attentive. She had exceptional awareness and willingness to act and take care of things fast.

When my baby's heart tones were low, Kristen came to my help. She recognized something wasn’t right and responded immediately with urgency and confidence, without a single ounce of wavering. When every second mattered, she took charge and advocated for my baby and me. Kristen will tell you she felt like she “yelled” at me, but what I remember is her strong voice getting the attention the situation needed—confident and, in that moment, exactly what I needed. It was reassuring and comforting, and I just knew I could and should put my complete trust in her. It showed me that she was fully present, fully aware, and absolutely committed to keeping us safe.

Because of Kristen’s quick thinking, attention to detail, and decisive action, both my baby and I are here today. I truly believe she made all the difference that day, that my baby, and possibly myself, would not be here without her. With every milestone we hit, every big moment we have, and even the times I'm just rocking my sweet babe to sleep, I think of her and my heart sends out a thank you.

Beyond her clinical excellence, Kristen’s compassion was outstanding. She spoke to me with reassurance, empathy, and clarity, helping me feel safe in a time of uncertainty and deep fear. It all happened so fast- watching teams of people rush to my room, my husband moved aside, everyone working, and my baby arrived in a hurried moment, being tubed and whisked away from us. I was the most scared and raw I have ever been, and with everything going on, I kept looking for Kristen. She treated me with dignity and kindness, and cared for my baby, husband, and me with such gentleness and love. She saw how vulnerable and scared I was and met me with grace.

What makes Kristen even more extraordinary is that her care didn’t end when I left the delivery room; she not only came and checked on me the next day, but about a week after giving birth, I was readmitted due to some complications. During that difficult, scary, and emotional time, Kristen came to visit me. That gesture meant more to me than I can fully express; I was in a fog of fear and tough emotions, and she came to sit with me. It showed me that her care goes far beyond her shift time or the role on her badge; she truly sees and cares for her patients as people. Kristen didn’t just provide excellent nursing care—she provided strength, advocacy, and compassion when we, as a family, needed it most. With her skills and expertise, she was aware, she acted, and she stayed.

Because of Kristen, I am here with my baby. I will carry gratitude for her for the rest of my life, and she forever has a place in our hearts. Kristen embodies everything the DAISY Award represents: nursing excellence, compassion, empathy, extraordinary care, and a steadfast commitment to her patients.


The patient’s husband also wrote:

I would like to recognize Kristen in Labor & Delivery the day my wife and I were in to have our next child. At this point, we had a good idea of how things went, having our previous children delivered at Riverside. All was going as planned until it wasn’t. Due to unforeseen complications, our nurse was unable to locate our baby’s heartbeat. She called in Kristen, the charge nurse, to assist, and she came in to help. She repositioned my wife for a moment, then moved quickly into action. Thanks to her being someone who is an absolute expert in her field, she quickly realized something was very wrong.

Kristen called an emergency team to the room and as they began piling in I remember Kristen looking up and saying, “you have to push. Push as hard as you can”. And like something out of a movie, our baby arrived. I remember it as a blur as they moved the baby to the warming station where they tubed her and took her to the NICU. That was a really tough sight. No holding, no bonding, scared of what just happened and what might be happening without us there.

Once again, like a true professional, Kristen came and helped again. This time as emotional support for my wife and I and to explain what had happened. I have no doubt in my mind that if it wasn’t for Kristen knowing exactly what to do and having no hesitation to do so, our baby would not be here with us today. She will forever hold a special place in my heart, and there is no way we could ever thank her enough.