For Holden Forman, becoming a nurse wasn’t just a career choice, it was a deeply personal calling. Motivated by watching his own family struggle with health challenges, Forman found himself wanting to do more than stand by helplessly.
“What made me want to get into nursing was the fact that my family was in poor health at the time, and I felt powerless to help,” he shared. “I thought that if I learned the human body inside and out it would help with my healthcare anxiety, and it has.”
That determination to face fear with knowledge and action led Forman to become a licensed practical nurse at Stillwater Medical, where he quickly earned the admiration of patients and coworkers alike. Just one year into his nursing career, he was honored with one of the highest recognitions in patient care, the DAISY Award.
The DAISY Award is an international program that recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care provided by nurses. It was established by the DAISY Foundation to honor nurses who demonstrate exceptional care for patients and their families, going above and beyond expectations. The award recognizes nurses for their compassion, courage, and integrity in all situations.
For Forman, receiving the DAISY Award felt ‘surreal.’ Like many new nurses, he often found himself battling self-doubt, wondering if he was truly making an impact.
“The past year and a half that I’ve been a nurse has been an ongoing internal battle of feeling like I am not up to par,” he admitted. “Getting the DAISY Award was the biggest eye-opening experience. It let me know I am doing exactly what I need to do, and I’m doing a good job of it.”
What sets Forman apart isn’t just his clinical knowledge or his skill at the bedside, it’s his deep empathy and his belief that even the smallest gestures can make the biggest difference. Whether it’s offering a warm blanket or a kind word, he knows the impact these moments can have.
“I try and think of times I made a difference, but then I realize, it can be as small as getting a warm blanket. That can change someone’s entire experience,” he said.
One moment that confirmed his purpose in nursing came while caring for a 90-year-old hospice patient.
“Seeing the smile and the peace that I brought to her and her family in her most vulnerable moment will forever stick with me. That was the moment I knew, I’m in the right field,” Forman said.
Behind his strength is a powerful motivator: his family, and especially his mother.
“She’s, my realist. Whether it’s a good day or a bad one, she brings me back down to earth. She’s my nurse and mom, all in one,” he said. “She’ll always be my biggest motivator.”
Forman’s story is also one of community, and that sense of belonging is exactly why he chose Stillwater Medical.
“It felt like family,” he said. “You aren’t just another nurse working the floor. You are a coworker, a friend, a confident, and you are loved.”
He describes a culture where coworkers and doctors take time to teach, encourage, and support each other, creating an environment where even brand-new nurses feel like they belong.
Working on the hospital’s fifth floor, Forman is currently pursuing his next big goal: completing his prerequisites at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford on the path to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. While academic goals are important, he knows the heart of nursing lies in connection and compassion.
“The reason I try so hard to be happy and make people laugh is because those pain meds don’t always cut it,” he said. “If I can make somebody smile with a funny story, even for one minute, that’s one minute less they’re focusing on their pain.” It’s a philosophy Forman lives by — laughter is the best medicine.
Forman says he wouldn’t be the nurse he is today without the love, guidance, and support of fellow nurses like Corki Damron, Sherry Stout, and many more who he affectionately refers to as his ‘nursing moms.’
“Being a nurse as a new grad is one of the most daunting experiences. They can only teach you so much in school, and you encounter things you never thought you would. But having coworkers who love and care for me, that’s made me who I am,” he said.
Forman may have started nursing to help others, but along the way, he discovered a family. His patients and colleagues who walk beside him each day empower him be his best. Through laughter, kindness, and the quiet courage of showing up wholeheartedly, he continues to remind everyone around him what it truly means to care.
