Celebrating National Nurses Week at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital
Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center are proud to celebrate National Nurses Week by recognizing the dedication, compassion and expertise of nurses who care for patients and residents across the Highlands-Cashiers community. As part of Mission Health and HCA Healthcare, nurses at both facilities are supported by a broader network committed to investing in colleagues through education, resources and a culture that prioritizes both professional growth and well-being. That commitment to excellence is reflected in recent recognition, including the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Emergency Department earning the 2025 Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award®, placing it among the top-performing hospitals nationwide for patient experience.
While we are highlighting two nurses whose stories reflect the impact of this work, this week is an opportunity to recognize and thank every nurse and care team member who contributes to the high-quality, compassionate care delivered each day at both Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center.
“Our nurses are at the heart of the care we provide, both at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and at Eckerd Living Center,” said Tom Neal, CEO of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. “Whether caring for patients in the hospital or supporting residents in long-term care, it takes a dedicated and connected team to meet the needs of our community. I’m incredibly proud of the compassion, professionalism and teamwork our nurses demonstrate every day.”
In recognition of National Nurses Week, we highlight two nurses whose experiences represent the strength and heart of the entire team.
Andrea Audesey, RN, a Clinical Nurse Coordinator at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, has spent nearly 30 years in nursing, with a career that has taken her across the country working in hospitals of all sizes. Yet for the past six years, she has found a home in Highlands — drawn not only to the work, but to the community she serves.
“The people here are incredibly respectful of nurses,” Andrea says. “They’re kind, understanding and appreciative, which makes a difference in the work we do every day.” That connection fuels her passion for patient education, one of the aspects of nursing she values most. “I want patients to leave feeling like they understand what’s happening and how to take care of themselves,” she says. “I want them to measure every nurse they meet after me by the care they received from me.”
For Andrea, the “power of nursing” is often found in the smallest moments. “Sometimes it’s just hearing ‘thank you for not judging me’ or ‘thank you for taking the time to explain,’” she says. “Being kind when someone is having a hard day — that’s what matters.”
She also knows the work comes with emotional weight. Nurses show up for patients during some of life’s most difficult moments, even while carrying their own challenges. “It’s important to remember that nurses are people, too,” she says.
What has kept Andrea at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital longer than any other stop in her traveling career is the team around her. “The night shift team I work with is amazing,” she says. “We help each other, we communicate, and we make sure our patients are taken care of.” That sense of trust and collaboration, she says, is rare. “I can rely on my team completely. It’s hard to leave a place where that kind of teamwork exists — it’s irreplaceable.”
Robbin Houston, LPN, has spent more than three decades caring for residents at Eckerd Living Center, part of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, and plans to retire at the end of 2026 after 31 years of service. Over the years, she has worn many hats, but says her favorite role is the one she has now as a floor nurse, building meaningful relationships with the residents she cares for each day.
For Robbin, the “power of nursing” is seen in both critical moments and lasting connections. She recalls a patient who experienced a medical emergency while bathing that required immediate CPR. “We worked together as a team, got her back, and she was able to return home,” Robbin says. Years later, that same patient returned for end-of-life care. “Having saved her live, the being able to care for her again — it was a full-circle moment I’ll never forget.”
Still, it’s often the small moments that matter most. “When a resident says, ‘I’m so glad it’s you working tonight,’ that touches my heart,” she says.
Working in geriatric care requires constant awareness and creativity, especially for patients living with dementia. Robbin focuses on getting to know each resident as a person. “Sometimes it’s not about medicine,” she says. “Sometimes it’s sitting down, playing cards or listening to their stories.”
She remembers one younger, bed-bound patient who found joy in playing cards. “She would light up when I came in to play cards or just sit and talk with her,” Robbin says. “That meant everything to me.”
After 31 years, Robbin says it’s the people, patients and colleagues, who keep her coming back. “Our residents depend on us, and they give us joy every day,” she says. “And we have a great team here. Our leadership checks in, asks what we need, and we support each other. It makes all the difference.”