On the final day of spring term clinicals at HCA Florida Oviedo Medical Center, a pair of Galen College of Nursing Orlando campus students were celebrated for earning the Flower Bud Award.  

HCA Healthcare awarded Andru Green and Xavier Gaaud for their outstanding performances during clinical rotations between January and March 2025. Green and Gaaud worked on the second floor cardiac/neuro unit, as well as the fourth floor medical/surgical unit.  

The Flower Bud is awarded by HCA Healthcare facilities to student nurses who exemplify the attributes and traits of a professional nurse. Angela Lewis, MSN, BC-RN, Chief Nursing Officer at Oviedo Medical Center, praised both students for their impact on their dedicated units.  

“Both student nurses demonstrated excellent professionalism and teamwork during their time on the unit,” Lewis said. “The students were notably inquisitive, consistently asking thoughtful, insightful questions that reflected a strong desire to learn, and always maintained a positive demeanor with a warm smile.” 

Green was recognized for his immediate enthusiasm and genuine curiosity in the clinical setting. From his very first rotation, Green approached each experience with positivity and a strong desire to grow, steadily developing his skills and confidence throughout the semester. 

“As a nursing student, you’re always focused on what’s ahead to better prepare for the next quiz, exam, skill check, or clinical rotation,” Green said. “We’re all so driven to succeed and earn that degree and license that we sometimes forget to pause and reflect on what we’ve already accomplished. The Flower Bud Award did exactly that for me. It gave me a moment to stop, reflect, and feel recognized for the hard work I’ve put in so far. Thank you to HCA Healthcare and Galen College of Nursing for seeing our efforts even when we don’t always see them ourselves.”  

Gaaud earned the Flower Bud Award for his drive to learn and his willingness to step forward whenever help was needed. Known for volunteering to take on new challenges, Gaaud embraced even the most difficult moments of clinical practice with determination and compassion. 

“It is deeply rewarding, as Dean, to witness their growth as developing nurses,” said Ruby Alvarez, PhD., MSN, RN, Galen Orlando Dean, “This Flower Bud Award reflects the dedication, curiosity, and heart they bring to their clinical experiences, and I am confident they will continue to flourish in the profession.” 

Congratulations to Andru and Xavier for representing Galen Orlando with excellence and embodying the compassion, curiosity, and teamwork that define Galen’s nursing students.  

Recognition like the Flower Bud Award doesn’t happen by chance. It grows from hands-on clinical experience, supportive faculty, and the confidence to step forward and care for others — all hallmarks of Galen’s pre-licensure nursing programs.

Explore Galen’s Practical/Vocational Nursing program, our Associate Degree in Nursing, and our 3-Year Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing and take the first step in your nursing journey with us.