Skip to Main Content

Celebrating Nursing Excellence: 16th Annual Nursing Recognition Event

May 8, 2025 Blog

Each year, we recognize exceptional nurses across CoxHealth at our annual nursing recognition event, honoring nurses who demonstrate outstanding skill, compassion, leadership and impact.  As we continue to recognize the incredible contributions of our nursing team, we’re proud to highlight individuals who make a lasting impact on our patients and colleagues.

For 2025, more than 430 nominations were submitted by peers and leaders. Honorees were selected in five categories, with both silver and gold distinctions.

Below are the full nominations of each honoree - each one a powerful reminder of what it means to live out the heart of nursing. Thank you for being the best for those who need us! 

Rising Star Award

Recognizes nurses with less than two years in practice, or those new to a department or role. 

Silver: Hannah Ulven – Cox Medical Center South, Women & Newborn 

"Hannah has quickly distinguished herself showing tremendous initiative and dedication to the team. She already has jumped in to key unit initiatives to drive performance improvements. Her compassion and respect in every patient interaction makes her a favorite. She fosters a sense of teamwork and unity. Her collaborative spirit enhances our overall team dynamics and we are confident that she will continue to make a difference in the years to come." 

Gold: Rachel Ehrsam – Cox Barton County Hospital, Med-Surg/Emergency Department 

"From the start, Rachel demonstrated an exceptional ability to learn, adapt, and excel. She already floats between our Emergency Department and our Med-Surg unit embracing every setting with confidence and determination. Her clinical judgment is impeccable and using resources and her peers allows her to make well-informed, sound clinical decisions. But, she is also a team player with a positive attitude. She has earned the trust and respect of her colleagues showing us all what professionalism and patient-centered care look like every day. There is no doubt, she will make an impact on the future of nursing at CoxHealth."

Nurse Preceptor Award

Recognizes outstanding mentorship and support for new nurses. 

Silver: Deeanna Hawkins – Cox Monett Hospital, Ambulatory Procedural Unit 

"Deeanna is not only a charge nurse - she is the go-to for precepting students or new hires. She is so patient and kind and creates a unique experience for each person she is training. She has even adjusted her own work hours to accommodate the best learning opportunities for students or new hires. She takes the time to encourage new staff who are learning. She celebrates each of their learning victories to encourage them and, as a result, she builds up the whole team within our unit." 

Gold: Carsyn Dunn – Cox Medical Center South, 400E Cardiac Med-Surg 

"Carsyn came and volunteered to be a preceptor and said she did it because she wanted to have a part in helping to train nurses to be strong members of a team and show them what excellent patient care is every day. She doesn’t just orient new nurses, she takes the time to develop personal relationships with them. She never lets them get down if they get frustrated with themselves while learning. She is a wonderful resource for the whole unit too and many come to her to learn and ask questions because she is approachable." 

Clinical Nursing Excellence Award

Recognizes nurses viewed as experts within their specialty area. 

Silver: Craig Couey – Cox Medical Center Branson, Nursing Education 

"Craig is the embodiment of a ‘can-do’ attitude, consistently going above and beyond to support the team. His extensive contributions are remarkable, and you will find his name on an impressive list of initiatives and assignments, all of which he handles with both enthusiasm and reliability. He builds relationships with everyone - nurses, techs, unit assistants, and beyond. Because he has such a positive influence and he has a generosity in sharing his knowledge and experiences, he is spreading his expertise. It took us a while to find such a smart nurse who was also an amazing person, but he was totally worth the wait!" 

Gold: Greg Cafferty – Cox Medical Center North, Adult Psych II 

“Greg is absolutely the definition of nursing excellence. He is beyond knowledgeable about our specialty, but also extremely caring about us all. At 4 a.m., if there is a brief lull, he is not taking a break. He has been found helping to sweep the unit or doing cleaning because he cares. He is quick to assess escalating situations and quickly jumps in to successfully and skillfully de-escalate some of our most complex patients, all while being kind and incredibly understanding. He is the very best of all of us put into one nurse.”

Nurse Inspiration Award  

Recognizes nurses who uplift others, embody the art of nursing, and inspire through their presence. 

Silver: Sidney Smith – Cox Medical Group, Family Medical Care Center

"Sidney inspires countless colleagues and clinical staff and demonstrates a remarkable work ethic. What is truly impressive about her is her ability to elevate others around her through her own exemplary practice. She is more than just an inspiration to anyone who knows her, she is a role model, mentor, and true leader in our eyes. Her generosity of spirit and unwavering passion to be the best nurse for her patients or her teammates means she is a constant source of motivation and encouragement to anyone who is around her to be even better." 

Gold: Jenn Frame – Cox Medical Center South, Emergency Department 

"Jenn is one of those nurses you know will always go the extra mile for her patients. She has been known to get hygiene products for a patient, a fresh outfit from Walmart, or even give a spa moment if she believes it will help her patient feel caring and kindness. She ensures that every decision or time she delivers nursing care is made with integrity, treating everyone the same. For new nurses, she inspires them as they see a standard to work towards. For her experienced colleagues, she shows that joy in nursing isn’t just a possibility, but it’s a reality if you commit to the choice. She shows all of us what the best parts of having a nursing heart are all about." 

Nursing Leadership Award

Recognizes nurse leaders who demonstrate innovation, enthusiasm, and empower their teams. 

Silver: Danielle Coryell – Cox Medical Center South, Cardiovascular ICU 

"Danielle has worked in every role in CVICU since she started 16 years ago - from unit secretary, then a nursing assistant, and then a nurse, and now our leader. But she was a leader in the department from day one. As our nurse manager, she sets high standards and expectations for us. She is always open to suggestions and other ideas, but she communicates so well by being clear and concise. Every Friday, she sends us weekly news so we can be engaged and up to date on things that matter to us or the organization. Danielle makes all of us want to work hard for her and she is an amazing problem solver even in pressure-filled circumstances. She is a true servant leader and listens with intention. When we have a real challenge, she comes out in the unit and then helps explain how we can work together as a team to fix it. We are a better department because of her leadership, but we want to be even greater because she has a lot of vision for our unit." 

Gold: Michelle Jackson – Cox Medical Group, Hulston Outpatient Oncology 

"Michelle is the picture of an involved and caring nurse leader who is an exemplary nurse too. She checks in on all her staff, ensuring their well-being not only at work, but in our personal lives too. Her constant encouragement and support helped many nurses in our unit obtain their specialty certification and go back to school to advance our degrees. Our patients often tell us what great teamwork and cheeriness we have in our unit. We tell them it is thanks to our leader. Michelle also takes patient safety seriously. Her steady and committed leadership throughout the years has not only made us a better team doing things with more safety, but her love for all of us and our patients - well, we never want to go anywhere else."