St. Mary's ICU Nurse Mike Skobba Receives DAISY Award
June 15, 2023Mike Skobba, a registered nurse who works weekend nights on St. Mary’s Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, has received St. Mary’s systemwide DAISY Award for Nursing Excellence.
Mike received two nominations, one from the loved one of a patient and another from a colleague.
“In the worst time of my family’s life, Mike remained a steadfast and constant source of comfort, knowledge and professional courtesy,” the patient’s loved one wrote. “The way he cared for my grandma touched my heart in more ways than I can write. He provided our family with such peace during a very difficult time.”
Colleague Kerry King had similar praise. “Mike is a pleasure to work with, each and every shift,” Kerry wrote. “He goes above and beyond to help, maintains a professional yet jovial spirit, and always keeps the needs and interests of the patient above all.”
“We are extremely proud of Mike and all of our DAISY Award recipients,” said Ann Gomes, St. Mary’s director of orthopedics and DAISY Award Committee coordinator. “This award demonstrates the vital role nurses play not only as care providers at the bedside, but with families and colleagues as well. Congratulations, Mike!”
Mike joined St. Mary’s Home Health Care/Hospice Services in July 2019 and provided care at St. Mary’s Hospice House until transferring into his current role at St. Mary’s Hospital about a year ago. Mike lives in Athens with his wife, Kim, and is the proud dad to their four boys. Outside of work, he enjoys long road trips to Minnesota, mountain biking, and swimming in Lake Superior.
About the DAISY Award
The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that celebrates the skillful and compassionate care nurses provide day-in and day-out. It was created in gratitude for the nurses who provided care to Patrick Barnes, a 33-year-old husband and father who lost his fight against a deadly autoimmune disease in 1999. His family created the DAISY Foundation, which now partners with more than 5,000 hospitals and schools in all 50 states and around the world to honor and inspire extraordinary nurses. Learn more about the DAISY Award at https://www.daisyfoundation.org/.
At St. Mary's, each DAISY Award recipient is recognized at a public ceremony with their colleagues. They receive a certificate, a DAISY Award pin, and a stone sculpture entitled "A Healer's Touch" that is hand-carved by sculptors in Zimbabwe. In addition, they and their colleagues are invited to celebrate the occasion with cinnamon rolls, a treat Patrick would request – even though he couldn’t eat them – as a thank-you to the nurses caring for him.
Anyone can nominate a St. Mary's nurse for the DAISY Award, including patients, patients' family members, providers, and colleagues. Any nurse in the St. Mary's system is eligible, including those at all three hospitals as well as home health care/hospice services and medical group offices. The nomination simply asks you to share your story of why a nurse is special to you. St. Mary's honors eight nurses each year.
There are two ways you can nominate a St. Mary's nurse for the DAISY Award:
- Visit St. Mary's DAISY Award webpage
- Contact Melissa McDaniel, Marketing Administrative Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator, at (706) 389-3890, option 3.