St. Mary's presents DAISY Award to nurse Julia Ruark

Athens, Ga. – Julia Ruark, a registered nurse who works night shift in the Emergency Department at St. Mary’s Hospital, has received St. Mary’s system-wide DAISY Award for nursing excellence.

“Julia is a wonderful nurse, always ready and willing to learn,” said the nomination submitted by Julia’s colleagues. “She shows us all what teamwork and a positive attitude will do to lighten our heavy loads. She is funny and she is fun. She is relatable and treats everyone she meets like they are a person and they are important.”

In presenting the award, DAISY Award Committee Chair and Director of Orthopedics Ann Gomes noted the committee was especially moved by how Ruark handled two especially challenging patients.

The first was a man who was terrified of needles but needed sutures for an injury. Ruark calmed his panic and engaged his attention while the physician stitched his wound.

The second was a heavily soiled homeless man who needed care for an injury but who refused to take a shower. Realizing he was in danger of a skin breakdown in addition to his other physical and psychological problems, Ruark talked him into allowing her to give him a sponge bath. She also washed his hair and provided him with clean clothes for his discharge.

“She showed these men justice and reverence just by being herself,” Gomes said. “She was honest with them, but not demeaning. We are so proud to have her as part of our team.”

Ruark lives in Winder and joined St. Mary’s in May 2019.

The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day. Inspired by the care that nurses provided to a young man with a terminal condition, the DAISY Foundation partners with some 4,000 hospitals and schools in all 50 states and 26 nations to honor extraordinary nurses.

At St. Mary's, each DAISY Award recipient is recognized at a COVID-safe public ceremony on their unit. They receive a certificate, a DAISY Award pin, and a hand-carved sculpture entitled "A Healer's Touch." In addition, they and their colleagues are invited to celebrate the occasion with cinnamon rolls, a favorite of the young man whose nurses inspired the creation of the DAISY Foundation.

Anyone can nominate a St. Mary's nurse for the DAISY Award, including patients, patients' family members, providers, or colleagues. Any nurse in the St. Mary's system is eligible, including those at all three hospitals as well as home health care/hospice 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. Nomination forms can be obtained by calling Melissa McDaniel at 706.389.3890, ext. 3.

Julia Ruark, 3rd from left, front, celebrates her DAISY Award with colleagues in St. Mary's Emergency Department.