Holly Murray, RN, BSN, CHPN, CM/DN, was voted Best Nurse of Worcester County by the readers of Coastal Style magazine. This marks the second time she has received this distinction, having also won in 2020. An Eastern Shore native, Holly was first drawn to pursuing a career in nursing after becoming a mother. “Motherhood sort of led me in the direction of nursing, in that I initially wanted to be a mother/baby nurse or a labor/ delivery nurse,” shared Holly. 

Upon earning an associate’s degree in nursing from Wor-Wic Community College in 2009, Holly sought employment at TidalHealth. There, she worked as a floating nurse for many years, and this experience presented her with opportunities to try several different areas of nursing, including surgical, orthopedic, oncology and others. 

“Oncology was something I really worked in a lot, and I saw a lot more of the aggressive measures of an end-stage cancer diagnosis. This is what sparked my decision to go into a comfort-care career path,” Holly said. 

Now, as a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) and a Care Team Leader at Coastal Hospice, Holly is known for her professionalism and compassion. Her role in assisting end-of-life patients is critical. By providing catered guidance and education, she helps end-of-life patients work to achieve their goal to spend their final stage in the comfort of their own homes. “I get so much fulfillment personally from helping these families, who are in a tough spot,” shared Holly. 

Another critical element of Holly’s duties is helping the patients’ families become more secure in their roles as caregivers. Working with the families requires her to be a diligent communicator/educator, sensitive and sympathetic always. “I was excited and honored to win Best Nurse for the second time. It’s such a privilege, and the biggest thing is that it brings attention to Coastal Hospice and the work we do here,” said Holly.