May 2026 Honoree
Charmaine Burrell, MHA, MSN, RN, PCCN
The DAISY Nurse Leader Award recognizes leaders who create environments where compassionate nursing care can thrive—leaders who support their teams, advocate relentlessly, and model integrity and excellence every day. Our next honoree is a nurse leader whose calm presence and compassion have made a lasting impact on people and culture.
I am proud to nominate Charmaine for the 2026 DAISY Nurse Leader Award. She is the kind of leader who makes the team feel supported, valued, and truly heard. She creates an environment built on trust and respect, and her compassionate leadership sets the tone for all of us.
She has been a strong mentor to many leaders within the Supplemental department, particularly during periods of leadership transition. Charmaine consistently advocates for her team—bringing concerns forward and communicating organizational priorities in ways that keep the teams informed and connected. She is accessible, responsive, and always willing to step in, whether during a difficult patient situation or when someone simply needs guidance.
Recently, Charmaine was nominated for a DAISY Award by one of her team members, who wrote:
She is an awe-inspiring leader and mentor who consistently gives 110% in everything she does. She approaches every task with dedication, positivity, and a true commitment to supporting her team. Charmaine leads by example and shows how a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and genuine care for others can make the workday both enjoyable and rewarding. Her leadership inspires all.
Charmaine supports not only her own team, but also broader departmental and organizational initiatives, including the Virtual Monitoring Program, Sitter Workflow redesign, and the Nurse Extern program. She encourages critical thinking rather than providing quick answers, strengthening both teamwork and confidence.
Charmaine’s calm presence, compassion, and genuine care for patients and staff truly embody what this Award represents.
Throughout her seventeen-year career at VCU Health, Charmaine has demonstrated exceptional leadership, unwavering compassion, and a deep commitment to creating environments where patients and team members feel supported and safe.
As a Nurse Manager in Supplemental Staffing and previously in Emergency Medicine, Charmaine leads complex teams of nurses, care partners, students, and unlicensed staff with a calm, ethical, and steady presence. She is deeply accessible—present, engaged, and always willing to listen.
During an unexpected snow and ice storm that impacted the Richmond area, Charmaine immediately took action to ensure her team’s safety and well-being. She secured nearby sleeping accommodations, helped prepare meals, collaborated with other leaders, and maintained clear communication throughout the event. In the midst of uncertainty, her team felt supported and cared for.
Her experience as a Clinical Administrator further reflects her ability to lead in high-stakes situations. She served as a critical resource during evening and night shifts, resolving safety concerns, escalating critical issues, and supporting bedside nurses.
Charmaine is deeply invested in the professional growth of others. She’s served as a preceptor, mentor, shared governance leader, and charge nurse facilitator, and she currently mentors a novice nurse leader through the VCU Legacy Leaders Program.
Her compassion extends beyond the hospital. She has participated in community health fairs, CPR demonstrations, and student shadowing programs. Most recently, while attending a Magnet conference, Charmaine saved a fellow nurse’s life after recognizing signs of anaphylaxis and responding quickly and calmly until help arrived.
Charmaine leads with humility, kindness, and heart. She ensures compassionate care is woven into the culture of her teams and is profoundly deserving of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award.
I am proud to nominate Charmaine for the 2026 DAISY Nurse Leader Award. She is the kind of leader who makes the team feel supported, valued, and truly heard. She creates an environment built on trust and respect, and her compassionate leadership sets the tone for all of us.
She has been a strong mentor to many leaders within the Supplemental department, particularly during periods of leadership transition. Charmaine consistently advocates for her team—bringing concerns forward and communicating organizational priorities in ways that keep the teams informed and connected. She is accessible, responsive, and always willing to step in, whether during a difficult patient situation or when someone simply needs guidance.
Recently, Charmaine was nominated for a DAISY Award by one of her team members, who wrote:
She is an awe-inspiring leader and mentor who consistently gives 110% in everything she does. She approaches every task with dedication, positivity, and a true commitment to supporting her team. Charmaine leads by example and shows how a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and genuine care for others can make the workday both enjoyable and rewarding. Her leadership inspires all.
Charmaine supports not only her own team, but also broader departmental and organizational initiatives, including the Virtual Monitoring Program, Sitter Workflow redesign, and the Nurse Extern program. She encourages critical thinking rather than providing quick answers, strengthening both teamwork and confidence.
Charmaine’s calm presence, compassion, and genuine care for patients and staff truly embody what this Award represents.
Throughout her seventeen-year career at VCU Health, Charmaine has demonstrated exceptional leadership, unwavering compassion, and a deep commitment to creating environments where patients and team members feel supported and safe.
As a Nurse Manager in Supplemental Staffing and previously in Emergency Medicine, Charmaine leads complex teams of nurses, care partners, students, and unlicensed staff with a calm, ethical, and steady presence. She is deeply accessible—present, engaged, and always willing to listen.
During an unexpected snow and ice storm that impacted the Richmond area, Charmaine immediately took action to ensure her team’s safety and well-being. She secured nearby sleeping accommodations, helped prepare meals, collaborated with other leaders, and maintained clear communication throughout the event. In the midst of uncertainty, her team felt supported and cared for.
Her experience as a Clinical Administrator further reflects her ability to lead in high-stakes situations. She served as a critical resource during evening and night shifts, resolving safety concerns, escalating critical issues, and supporting bedside nurses.
Charmaine is deeply invested in the professional growth of others. She’s served as a preceptor, mentor, shared governance leader, and charge nurse facilitator, and she currently mentors a novice nurse leader through the VCU Legacy Leaders Program.
Her compassion extends beyond the hospital. She has participated in community health fairs, CPR demonstrations, and student shadowing programs. Most recently, while attending a Magnet conference, Charmaine saved a fellow nurse’s life after recognizing signs of anaphylaxis and responding quickly and calmly until help arrived.
Charmaine leads with humility, kindness, and heart. She ensures compassionate care is woven into the culture of her teams and is profoundly deserving of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award.
Thank you, Charmaine, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
View More Honorees