SGMC Health Nurse Justin Parks Receives DAISY Award for Exceptional End-of-Life Care

Recently, SGMC Health recognized Justin Parks with the May DAISY Award for exceptional nursing. The award was given in recognition of Parks’ outstanding care and actions during end-of-life care for a patient and their family. According to the nomination, the family opted to withdraw intervention and begin comfort care for the patient. Despite challenges, Parks made it possible for the patient to fulfill their last request to go outside.

The patient’s son expressed gratitude for the compassion and care provided by Parks throughout their father’s stay. Parks answered questions, offered support, and ensured that the patient had everything they needed. The family was particularly touched by Parks’ efforts to fulfill the patient’s last request to go outside.

At SGMC Health, patients and colleagues are encouraged to nominate nurses who demonstrate exceptional care and actions. The DAISY Award committee considers criteria such as compassion, teamwork, leadership, attitude, skills, and knowledge when reviewing nominations. Recipients of the DAISY Award receive a certificate recognizing them as an “Extraordinary Nurse” and a hand-carved sculpture called A Healer’s Touch from artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. The local sponsor of SGMC Health’s DAISY Award, The Flower Gallery, provides a special floral arrangement of daisies. To nominate a nurse for the DAISY award, visit sgmc.org/daisy.

The team members from the 3T Cardiac Intensive Care Unit were responsible for recognizing Justin Parks as an extraordinary nurse who went above and beyond for a patient during end-of-life care at SGMC Health.