The award is an ongoing national recognition program that provides a mechanism for hospital employees, patients, and patient families to honor nurses who provide extraordinary relational care and demonstrate a deep understanding of what it means to be in tune with the highly variable needs of people who are vulnerable and suffering. Flowers is the first to receive the award at Baptist Health.

“I am truly humbled and very appreciative of this honor,” Flowers said. “I work alongside many awesome nurses every day and appreciate the amazing foundation for nursing and the skills I obtained as an Aggie.”

After graduating from the School of Nursing at North Carolina A&T State University, Flowers began her career at Cone Health in Greensboro in the Cardiac Critical Care Department. “It was there that I worked with many Aggie RNs who helped further shape my foundation and skill for saving lives,” said Flowers.

When the military transferred her husband, Army Captain Dwayne Flowers ’10, to Jacksonville, in September 2013, she took her position at Baptist Health in the hospital’s Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) working with patients recovering from open heart surgery.

Flowers also leads the CVICU’s Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcer (HAPU) team. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, pressure ulcers affect 2.5 million patients per year. In addition to the discomfort caused, Medicare estimated in 2007 that each pressure ulcer added over $43,000 in costs to a hospital stay. Flowers works with wound care nurses and physicians to lower the occurrence of pressure ulcers at Baptist Health.

Her role on the HAPU team is part of the reason Flowers has been praised for her knowledge, collaboration skills, and leadership abilities. Fairly new to the Baptist Health system, her award nomination also recognized the significant impact she is already making at the hospital.

“She has become our wound care champion,” read the nomination, “but she is so much more than just that. Even the surliest of patients can't resist her demeanor and charm. Everyone knows that when Ciara is working, the day will be better and brighter. Whether convincing a reluctant patient that he can walk after heart surgery or teaching the patient and caregivers how to care for themselves at discharge, Ciara is a passionate encourager. Her patients love her and she loves them.”

Flowers feels her education from N.C. A&T has prepared her for this chapter in her life. “It's been a great transition from North Carolina to Florida with the foundation I received from the wonderful A&T School of Nursing,” said Flowers. “The School of Nursing taught me priceless knowledge and instilled in me the drive to succeed in this amazing profession.”

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