ROME, Ga., Oct. 20, 2025 – Atrium Health Floyd nurses and other teammates have been recognized as part of the organization’s Nursing Excellence Awards program - designed and developed by nurses for nurses. The program honors clinical direct patient care nurses, nurse leaders and clinical or non-clinical nurse-led teams. Winners will be considered for division-level recognition with Advocate Health.
"The really great thing about this is that we get to recognize everybody locally and then the winners of this group will be submitted for our division winners,” said Sheila Bennett, senior vice president and chief of patient services at Atrium Health Floyd. "It would be awesome if we had a winner for any of these at our North Carolina/Georgia division as well."
Shelena Chisolm was named Nurse of the Year, an honor she also received last spring. This award recognizes an exceptional clinical registered nurse in direct patient care who consistently demonstrates the essentials of their division’s professional practice model.
Other nominees include Lisa Simms, Nickie Mayfield, Peggy George, Pam Estes, Robert Wade, Scotyln Wilson, Johnny Walker, Amelia Baker, Brittany Letner, Laura Charlier, Kristina Baker, Lisa Simms, Vanessa Crane, Jennifer Ingram and Vanessa Crane.
The candidates were ranked using a variety of factors, ranging from compassionate care and clinical excellence to collaboration.
Zack Gibson was named the Nurse Leader of the Year. This award honors a nurse responsible for both direct patient care and the effectiveness in leading other nurses. Other nominees included Kristi Dutton, Misty McCarley, Jennifer Little, Maria Ramzanali, Katie Hardy, Samantha Jackson, Holly Marks and Christina Ridings.
The nurse leaders were rated in several categories, including their ability to engage teammate talent, teammate empowerment and culture transformation.
The Emergency Department Electrocardiogram Process Improvement Team was the recipient of the Stronger Together award. This award celebrates the achievement of a nurse-led team recognized for collaborative excellence and outcomes achieved through alignment with the professional practice model essentials.
That team includes: Taryn Ledford, clinical manager of the Emergency Care Center; Monique Dennis, director of Behavioral Health Revenue Cycle Operations; Dr. Ken Jones, senior vice president and chief physician officer; Dr. Kevin Hardwell, medical director of the Emergency Care Center; Becca Hazell, informatics specialist of clinical informatics; Misty Mills, RN; Asti Moore, CNA; Emily Costolnick, clinical coordinator of the Emergency Care Center; Keely Harris, coordinator of Cardiac Care Center of Excellence; Stephanie Durall, coordinator of Cardiac Care Center of Excellence; Hannah Wilson, clinical coordinator of Emergency Care Center; Chad Taylor, director of operations at Emergency Care Center; Lee Clevenger, director of Cardiovascular Services; Tosha Flowers, EKG technician; Hester Howard, EMT, Emergency Care Center; Korrine Woods, lead secretary, Emergency Care Center; Jeff Jenkins, clinical coordinator of Cardiovascular Services; and Monica Shaw, EKG technician.