Special to The Times
WAYCROSS — Memorial Satilla Health launched Nurses Week Celebrations with the annual Nursing Awards Ceremony Tuesday, May 6. Awards presented include Nurse of the Year, Nursing Leadership Award, Rising Star Award, Nursing Team Award and Team Member Excellence.
“Often the first faces our patients see, you offer crucial reassurance and compassionate care from the start of their day, setting the tone for healing, hope, and a positive experience within our hospital,” said Dr. Celeste Brizzee, chief nursing officer. “You consistently step forward to embrace new knowledge, fiercely advocate for your patients' needs, and offer invaluable support to your colleagues. Your unwavering dedication fuels our entire organization and inspires us all to strive for excellence.”
Nurse of the Year – Kayla Davis, an ER nurse, received Nurse of the Year. She has worked at Memorial Satilla for 11 years and is a resident of Pierce County. “She is an amazing nurse to watch and learn from! She explains things thoroughly, and consistently strives for perfection in every aspect of her work, embracing constructive criticism and using it to improve,” said her nominator. “She inspires and drives her team to be the best they can be. Her leadership, hard work, and passion for patient care makes her a deserving candidate for this prestigious award.”
Nursing Team Award – Women’s Services, under the leadership of Director Haley Dixon, received the Nursing Team Award. Dixon, a Patterson resident, has worked at Memorial Satilla for 10 years.
“The Women’s Services nurses are a dedicated and compassionate team who exemplify excellence in patient care. Their unwavering commitment to mothers, newborns, and families ensures a safe, supportive and empowering birth experience for every patient. They work seamlessly together, demonstrating exceptional teamwork, clinical expertise, and empathy in even the most challenging situations,” Brizzee said.
Nursing Leadership Award – Emergency Department Director Ashton Poole, Pierce County native, received the Nursing Leadership Award. Poole has worked at Memorial Satilla for six years.
“She consistently supports her team, recognizes their hard work, and fosters a culture of continuous learning and growth. Ashton is a great leader who leads by example and does her best to help her team and individual employees succeed,” Brizzee said. Rising Star Award – Payton Strickland, RN on 2-Main’s med/surg unit, received the Rising Star Award and is a Blackshear resident. Strickland has worked at the hospital for two years. He is also a recent recipient of the DAISY Award.
“Payton shows daily his interest in learning and growing his nursing skills and is not shy to learn new techniques. He is a team player and will be there to help out a team member in any way that he can,” his nominator said.
Team Member Excellence Award – Allison Thrift, Food & Nutrition Services team member, received the Team Member Excellence Award.
“Allie always has a smile and always takes on tasks with a positive attitude. So many patients compliment her dedication to the job,” her nomination read. Allison is from Pierce County and has been an FNS team member for 10 years.
