August 23, 2018– Southeast Georgia Health System recently presented
The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses to Mitchell Sandifer, R.N., in recognition of
the care and compassion he provides every day to patients and their family members.
A Coronary Care Unit (CCU) nurse, Sandifer was nominated for The DAISY
Award by the family member of a patient requiring sedation and life support
at the Health System’s Brunswick Campus. The nomination expressed
how the family was overwhelmed with Sandifer’s compassion during
the four weeks the patient was in the CCU, as well as his support, knowledge
and kindness as the patient’s health declined, resulting in the
very difficult decision to terminate support.
“My sister was very ill and admitted in SGHS on January 5, 2018.
At one point she was moved to CCU. My brother-in-law was texting us with
information about her condition. I arrived in January 19, 2018, and first
spoke with Allyson who was very nice and informative. The next morning,
Mitchell was her nurse and I was overwhelmed with his compassion and genuine
care for my sister. Mitchell explained everything from start to why she
was in this condition. She started improving slightly and her blood infection
was clearing up. Monday, January 22, 2018, I went to the hospital to see
her before I headed back home. Mitchell went over what the plans were
for stopping sedation, to removing the respirator. He also told me to
call anytime and he would give me updates. Sara was the next nurse who
was taking care of my sister. She was great. As her health got worse,
Sara was very helpful. I made the decision to return. Upon my return,
Thursday, February 1, Mitchell was back. We discussed everything again
and her prognosis. My brother-in-law was reluctant to sign the DNR and
withdrawal of support. Mitchell again with compassion, kindness and gentleness,
explained her situation and what would happen if she went into cardiac
arrest. My borther-in-law was holding out for his son to arrive. Friday
morning I arrived early and she was barely alive. Mithcell cound not have
been better. My brother-in-law finally signed the papers and she was at peace.
“I am a Christian and truly believe it was God that placed Mitchell
to care for my sister and handle the needs of our family. Mitchell went
above and beyond his duties as a nurse. I am ever so thankful for his
compassion, kindness, patience, understanding and knowledge to relate
with others. Mitchell being a nurse in the CCU is truly his calling. A
bit of FYI—I am from a large family and been in this type of situation
several times. I can honestly say, I have never had a nurse like Mitchell.
HE IS SPECIAL.”
Sandifer was presented with the DAISY Award by Judith Henson, R.N., BSN,
MSA, vice president, Patient Care Services, in front of his peers, Health
System leadership and physicians. He also received “A Healer’s
Touch” sculpture, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa,
and no DAISY presentation would be complete without Grandy’s Sinnamon® Rolls, donated by owners, and siblings, Paul and Mary Kay Spence.
Created by The DAISY Foundation™—an acronym for Diseases Attacking
the Immune System—the DAISY Award was established by family members
in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at the age of 33 in late 1999
from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little
known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Barnes and his family
received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking
nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients
and the patients’ family and friends.
Nurses can be nominated for The DAISY Award online at
sghs.org/daisy-award, or nominations may be placed in DAISY boxes located throughout the Health
System’s Brunswick and Camden campuses. A committee consisting of
Health System team members, including clinical and non-clinical staff,
leadership, medical staff and board members, review the nominations and
determine The DAISY Award recipient(s). Awards are given quarterly throughout the year.