Melissa “Missy” Brady Willis, RN, CHPN with Hospice of Queen Anne’s, has been awarded the Cynthia L. Nugent Clinical Excellence Award in Hospice and Palliative Care by Hospice of Queen Anne’s.
Willis was acknowledged for her outstanding knowledge and dedication as a hospice and palliative care nurse and for consistently demonstrating the highest standards of excellence in caring for terminally ill patients and their families.
A native of Rock Hall, MD, Willis is the registered nurse case manager for HQA’s six-bed Hospice Center in Centreville. Previous to joining the HQA team in 2001, Willis worked in the hospice arena since 1987. Her first experience working with hospice families was as a nursing student in the Nursing School of Wilmington when she provided in-home sitting for hospice patients.
“Missy, our most experienced hospice nurse, consistently exemplifies the essence of hospice nursing as she personally attends to the needs of each and every patient with loving care,” said Executive Director Heather Guerieri. Missy is consistently steadfast in her commitment to ensuring total comfort and dignity for her patients as they are nearing the end of life,” she added.
The Cynthia L. Nugent Clinical Excellence Award in Hospice and Palliative Care was established in 2009 by Bob Nugent in memory of his wife Cynthia, a hospice nurse serving patients with Hospice of Queen Anne’s for eight years prior to her death at the Hospice Center.
“Cindy believed that caring for terminally ill patients was both a duty and an honor,” said Bob Nugent. “We are pleased to be able to present this award to a hospice team member who holds these same beliefs,” he added.
Hospice of Queen Anne’s is a fully licensed, nonprofit organization providing the highest quality comprehensive and compassionate care for individuals in the advanced stages of illness and support for the loved ones who care for them. For additional information, please visit www.hospiceofqueenannes.org or call 443-262-4100.
In photo: Melissa Willis, RN, CHPN, recipient of the Cynthia L. Nugent Clinical Excellence Award in Hospice and Palliative Care, was presented with a cash gift, gold lighthouse lapel pin, and plaque at Hospice of Queen Anne’s in Centreville. Representing the Nugent family are, from left, David and Rebecca Boglioli, Nugent’s daughter and son-in-law and Robert Nugent, husband of the late Cynthia Nugent. Heather Guerieri, HQA executive director is standing to the right of Willis. Photo provided by Hospice of Queen Anne’s.