Special Care Unit nurse receives DAISY Award

Loving your job and enjoying what you do is not a something everyone experiences. Judy (JT) Charles, SCU, RN at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) Tulsa, is one of those lucky few. And her patients and their caregivers appreciate her positive attitude.
JT has been with CTCA Tulsa for a total of seven years and was recently recognized with a DAISY Award. CTCA is a hospital-partner with the international DAISY Award program, which highlights and rewards one nurse per quarter for extraordinary, compassionate and skillful care demonstrated in their everyday work.
After growing up in Sand Springs, JT has lived in Verdigris and Inola for the last 26 years. She received her BSN from Langston and went on to get her MSN from the University of Oklahoma.
According to JT, nursing was a choice that made sense for her because “it’s the largest profession in healthcare and will only continue to grow in strength and voice.”
“Nursing degrees can be challenging to earn in healthcare, but to me, the professional and personal rewards are the richest,” she explained. “Originally, I planned on obtaining my undergraduate nursing degree and using it to go into medicine. With knowledge of the philosophy of nursing and witnessing the profound effect nurses have on patient and family outcomes, 15 years later I am happy and proud to be a nurse.”
Her passion for the medical field continues through her volunteer work. She has provided medical support for Cheyenne Frontier Days Contract Acts-Security. She also served eight years with the United States Army Reserves.
Family is important to JT, and her passion for helping others has been passed down to her three kids. Raevyn, her oldest, is an Intensive Care Unit nurse in Tulsa. Shelby was a CNA for two years and is now finishing cosmetology school, while her youngest, Chance, is finishing high school and hopes to join the Marines.
When JT is not working with her patients, she enjoys nature and the outdoors.
“I love working in my yard, it’s so relaxing and rewarding,” she said. “Being outside is one of my favorite hobbies, and I’m looking forward to re-exploring my love of hiking and riding horses.”
Others in the hospital see JT having an extremely positive effect on the patients and families she comes into contact with on a daily basis.
“JT has been amazingly vigilant – she never gets upset or angry,” said a CTCA patient’s caregiver. “Even when my father-in-law refused to listen or was combative with her, she always had a smile. And she has fun at her job! She obviously loves what she does. The world needs more people like JT – compassionate, caring, and simply amazing.”