RN-BSN Nursing Student, Amy O'Rear,

Receives Overall Excellence Award

from the MU Sinclair School of Nursing

April 30 , 2008

COLUMBIA , Mo. – Amy O'Rear's love of nursing began as a child. While growing up, her father spent a lot of time in the hospital – she never forgot the nurse that took care of her dad.

That nurse was filled with compassion for all her patients, O'Rear's dad and for that child who loved her dad. She was upset that the hospital's policy didn't allow children under the age of 12 to go into a patient's room. But this nurse went out of her way to help O'Rear spend time with her dad.

“Amy's superb skills have made her a successful student and will continue to help her achieve her personal and professional goals,” said Tonya Eddy, instructor of nursing at the MU Sinclair School of Nursing. “Her oral presentation skills are excellent and her high work ethic shines through into her written assignments as well. I look forward to seeing Amy's accomplishments after she obtains her Master's degree in nursing education or administration. ”

Her devotion to the nursing profession and her community were the deciding factors in her receiving the RN-BSN Student Award for Overall Excellence at the School's annual banquet on April 11.

O'Rear, her husband of 14 years, Jim, and their four children are lifetime residents of Jackson , Mo. She is a cardiac nurse for Southeast Missouri Hospital and a floating RN per diem for St. Francis Medical Center, both of which are located in Cape Girardeau , Mo.

Once a nurse, she was able to meet the nurse who inspired her as a young child. When they met again, nurse to nurse, O'Rear let her know how much she appreciated her.

“Amy exemplifies what we seek in a RN-BSN nursing student: intelligent, well- rounded, kind, committed, compassionate and full of integrity,” said Rose Porter, Dean of the Sinclair School of Nursing. “The school's annual banquet gives us a chance to honor those who have gone the extra mile and in the process elevated the bar of excellence in the field of nursing.”

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