East Georgia Regional Medical Center Honors Nurse Cheri Wagner Daisy Leader Award for 2024
5/13/2024
Cheri Wagner, a dedicated nurse at East Georgia Regional Medical Center (EGRMC), has been awarded the prestigious Daisy Leader Award for 2024 in recognition of her outstanding leadership in patient care and nursing excellence. Her impactful work in the emergency department has been celebrated through heartfelt testimonials from her colleagues and team members.
During the annual Nurses Week celebrations, Cheri received the Daisy Leader Award from EGRMC's chief nursing officer, Marie Burdett. This esteemed award, one of the highest honors in nursing leadership, highlights Cheri's exceptional commitment to patient care and nursing excellence.
The Daisy Leader Award, established by the DAISY Foundation in 1999 in memory of Patrick Barnes, includes the Healer's Touch Sculpture—a beautiful hand-carved piece from serpentine stone by a Shona artist from Zimbabwe, symbolizing the deep connection between nurses and their patients.
In her address at the ceremony, Burdett praised Cheri's vital role in creating a nurturing and supportive environment that upholds the highest standards of patient care. She emphasized the importance of providing necessary resources, fostering team development and recognizing the significant contributions of nurses in delivering compassionate care.
Cheri's colleagues spoke highly of her leadership qualities, noting her tireless work ethic, dedication to teamwork and commitment to accountability. Described as a mentor, patient advocate and compassionate leader, Cheri consistently prioritizes the needs of others in her work. Testimonials from team members highlighted Cheri's hands-on approach, trust in her team to make critical decisions and genuine care for each individual in her department. Her leadership, characterized by kindness, loyalty and a commitment to fostering a cohesive team environment, has earned her widespread admiration and respect.
In a special tribute, Marie Burdett expressed profound admiration for Cheri's growth and evolution as a leader, culminating in her well-deserved recognition with the Daisy Leader Award. Cheri's leadership in the emergency department was commended for not only directing the team but also inspiring and guiding them towards excellence and compassion in patient care.
As the community celebrates Cheri Wagner's extraordinary achievements, her lasting impact as a beacon of nursing leadership and an unwavering advocate for patient well-being continues to inspire all at East Georgia Regional Medical Center.
Nurse Leader Daisy Award
The following criteria are listed for the recipient of the nurse leader Daisy Award:
Nurse leaders are recognized for the demands on leaders are different:
- They provide a haven of safety for staff, both physically and emotionally
- They ensure standards of quality patient care are maintained
- They ensure nurses have access to the technology and equipment they need – and the information
- They manage human and financial resources across staffing, supplies and more
- They drive team development, resiliency, and competency, ensuring their team members are meaningful recognized for the work they do for patients and families
- These leaders provide a setting where compassion is valued, and staff, in turn, treat patients and their families with deep humanity
As their work is different, so are the criteria for The DAISY Nurse Leader Award different. Nurse leaders are recognized for:
- Creating an environment where attributes of trust, compassion, mutual respect, continued professional development and ethical behavior are modeled and supported
- Being accessible, available, and responsive to the needs of their team
- Problem-solving and encouraging critical thinking
- Advocating for their teams
- Ensuring that the needs of the teams are communicated to organization leadership and organizational priorities and directions are communicated to their teams
- Being compassionate leaders
For further information regarding the DAISY Foundation and its prestigious awards, please visit www.daisyfoundation.org.
*East Georgia Regional Medical is owned in part by physicians.
Back