Wife Encouraged Husband to Become an RN, Now He’s Won a DAISY Award

Chuck Murphy had tears in his eyes when Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital presented him with the coveted DAISY Award for extraordinary nurses. He was surprised to receive the honor after being nominated by one of his hospice patients. Murphy started working at the facility in 2016 and was promoted to unit charge nurse in June 2022.

“Chuck is a very delightful charge nurse, and we love him very much,” wrote the patient who nominated him for the award. “There have been many times that he has been my advocate, while always looking out for my needs as a patient at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. I have been under Chuck’s care many times the last two years. He works very hard, and he is very kind and respectful toward others. Chuck has become our friend here while in the hospital.”

The patient also highlighted Murphy’s signature sense of humor. “Chuck can make me and my husband laugh at times, which is a real gift when working at a hospital while dealing with pain and suffering. He is also very kind and full of compassion and a wonderful nurse always.”

Murphy took the long road to becoming a nurse. He learned how to work hard from an early age while employed in the lumber industry, but the job left him wanting more, so he enrolled in a local Portland community college to study medical assisting and phlebotomy. That led to a six-year stint as phlebotomist.

“I always wanted to be an RN or nurse practitioner but frankly I never thought I was smart enough to pursue that goal,” Murphy said. “I met my wife who always encouraged and pushed me to go to nursing school. She had more faith in me than I had in myself. So, I went to and graduated from Oregon Coast Community College’s nursing school and the rest is history. And I owe it all to my wife.”

He accomplished his goal in 2009 when he became a registered nurse and has since worked in a variety of specialties and units, including surgery, home health, medical/surgical inpatient, and at a psychiatric hospital.

“For me, during all those different nursing careers, it has been very important for me to show my patients kindness, caring, respect, empathy, and sympathy. I try my best to treat patients how I would want to be treated if I were a patient,” Murphy added.