Baptist nurses are appreciated each day for their service, compassion and dedication. During National Nurses Week — Tuesday, May 6 through Monday, May 12 — Baptist celebrated nurses with special events and extra recognition.
Baptist Anderson
Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center celebrated Nurses Week with many fun activities, including a coffee bar in the north lobby. The leadership team also made rounds across various units, delivering delicious snacks and heartfelt thanks to frontline heroes.
Baptist Anderson proudly recognized the outstanding dedication, compassion and leadership of the nursing team with Nurse Excellence Awards. The awards celebrate individuals who exemplify what it means to deliver exceptional care and support across all areas.
Baptist Anderson nurses earning Nurse Excellence Awards:
- Friend of Nursing: Candace Williamson for her unwavering support and collaboration with the nursing team
- Nurse Excellence Traditional Setting: Jada Brown for outstanding clinical care and leadership in a traditional care environment
- Nurse Excellence Non-traditional Setting: Brandy Robinson for innovation and excellence in non-traditional nursing roles
- Clinical Setting Award: Donna Mitchell for exceptional patient care and clinical expertise
- Nurse Manager Award: Ashley McMillan for exemplary leadership and commitment to nursing excellence
- Nurse Executive Leader: Cassandra Gibbs for visionary leadership and dedication to advancing nursing practice
- Nurse Mentor Award: Madison Scruggs for her guidance, support and positive effect on fellow nurses
- Rising Star Award: Lauren Reyes for her promising contributions and future leadership potential in nursing
- Florence Nightingale Award: Jeannie Ridout for embodying the spirit of nursing through compassionate care and lifelong service
Baptist Booneville
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville celebrated its nurses for being “Out of This World,” and started off the week with a fun Cinco de Mayo breakfast, provided by Horizon Health. Other weekday treats included Galaxy Graze boxes filled with snacks and a “Nurses Are the Stars” space-themed lunch, provided by Dr. Tejinder Saini, Dr. Joseph Putnam and Nurse Practitioner Holly Wilson. Nurses also enjoyed a Rocket Fuel Station with iced coffee, energy drinks and astronaut candy.
Activities included peer-nominated awards, a Finding Florence Scavenger Hunt and a space puzzle that incorporated teamwork. Senior Care won the department decorating contest with their “Out of This Galaxy” design. The finale included gifts for nurses and ice cream sundaes provided by Legacy Hospice.
Baptist Carroll County and Baptist Outpatient Surgery Center
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County and the Jackson Clinic-Baptist Outpatient Campus in Jackson, Tennessee, celebrated the skill, compassion and dedication of their nurses and offered breakfast, plus special treats and snacks, throughout the week.
Baptist Collierville
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville honored nurses with Nurse Excellence Awards. Melinda Wolfe, risk manager, won the Overall Nursing Excellence Award. Nurses also enjoyed space-themed activities, treats and visits from E.T.!
Baptist DeSoto
Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto kicked off Nurses Week with an “Out of This World Nursing Care” blast-off with leaders jetting by each unit or department to share yummy snacks. Nurses Week also included Blessing of the Hands, a special event during which chaplains acknowledge the sacred work that nurses provide to patients. It is a reminder of the dedication, compassion and skill that nurses bring to their profession.
Baptist DeSoto celebrated its Nurse Excellence Award nominees and announced winners at a luncheon on Wednesday, May 7.
Baptist DeSoto nurses earning Nurse Excellence Awards include the following:
- Haley Barbee, Friend of Nursing
- Lisa Riley, Nurse Educator
- Kenneishia Leverson, Rising Star
- Ashley Baker, Nurse Mentor
- Cody Brassfield, Nurse Manager
- Jessica Liles, A.G.E. Nurse
- Cathy Popham, Nurse Excellence Non-traditional Setting
- Carlie Mendoza, Nurse Excellence
Baptist Golden Triangle
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle had fun activities and department competitions to celebrate its nurses, including camo day, color wars, a fun fashion show, vendor market, scavenger hunts, food trucks and more.
Baptist North Mississippi
Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi started off Nurses Week with a “May the Fork Be With You” unit potluck, door decorating contest and “Space Paws” visits from therapy dogs.
The activities continued with a Rocket Fuel Waffle Breakfast, Nurse Excellence Awards, Supernova Unit Awards, gifts, preceptor reception, food trucks, cookies, mobile moonwalk photo booth and space cakes.
Baptist Memphis
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis celebrated Nurses Week with a host of fun events with the “Out of This World” theme. The Emergency department won first place in the conference room decorating contest, 2 South took second place and 3 West and 4 North tied for third place.
Team members on day and night shifts enjoyed a visit from Mid South Therapy Dogs and sweet treats from the candy cart. The hospital also celebrated nurses with Nurse Excellence Awards.
The following Baptist Memphis nurses earned Nurse Excellence Awards:
- Wendy Guy, Service
- Jenny Stovall, Management
- Belinda Wheaton, Education
- Kimberly Bennett, Leadership
- Monica Trinidad, Practice
Baptist Memphis and Baptist Arlington Emergency Department nurses Christina McAlaster, Ashley Bodine and Ashton Provence won awards from the University of Memphis Lowenberg College of Nursing.
Richard Schenk won the NightinGala Bedside Nurse Hero Award from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Baptist Union County
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County presented Nurse Excellence Awards to colleagues who go above and beyond every day to provide compassionate, quality-focused care to patients. The nominees enjoyed a nice luncheon in their honor and gift bags and prizes.
The following Baptist Union County nurses earned Nurse Excellence Awards:
- Joann Burks, Traditional RN
- Carol Lumsden, Non-traditional RN
- Candace Jarvis, Clinic RN
- Christin Cockrell, Nurse Mentor
- Savannah Wheelington, Rising Star RN
- Mallory Quinn, Manager
- Gretta Carter, Florence Nightingale
Baptist Tipton
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton celebrated nurses in special ways throughout the week, beginning with a Blast Off Breakfast and coffee bar for all nurses. Day and night shift nurses came together for a great time of fellowship to start off the week.
Nurses also enjoyed a fun, competitive unit decorating contest; Critical Services won for their interactive space-themed decorations. The fun continued with the Moon Walk Cake Walk, featuring cupcakes delivered to all units by nursing and hospital leaders. Chaplains performed Blessing of the Hands at the hospital and Baptist Cancer Center locations. The ceremony recognizes the vital care nurses provide to patients.
During Nurses Week, Heather Bridges, registered nurse in the Emergency department, received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
At the end of the week, the hospital recognized nurses from each department based on votes by their peers. Each winner of the Extraordinary Nurse Award received an “Out of this World” trophy, a certificate and flowers.
Mississippi Baptist Medical Center
“During Nurses Week, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center leaders expressed their appreciation for the many daily contributions of nurses and the positive impact they have on patients’ lives,” said Brenda Howie, chief nursing officer at MBMC.
The hospital held a breakfast to honor 2024 DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses recipients and their nursing leaders. DAISY Award winners are nominated by patients or their families for going above and beyond in patient care while demonstrating remarkable compassion and dedication.
Team members from the Education team rounded on units to show support to nurses and posed with nurses for “Out of this World Nursing Care” photos. Nurses also created E.T. nurse mascots, which were displayed in the main lobby. At the end of the week, leaders gave out sweet and salty treats and presented awards for Best E.T. Mascots. Nurses Week wrapped up with visits from therapy puppies and dogs, including Duke, a golden retriever; Luna, a golden retriever puppy; Rooster, an Australian shepherd; and Lupe, a Jack Russell terrier.
NEA Baptist
NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital celebrated nurses with an “Out of This World” theme with fun treats and photo opportunities.
