June 2026
Kristi
Barlow
,
BSN, RN
Gulf Coast Medical Center
Fort Myers
,
FL
United States
She leads with compassion, integrity, and resilience, always advocating for both patients and staff.
While her last name may be Bar-low, she certainly does not set the bar low. Kristi consistently raises the standard for leadership, teamwork, and patient care in our Emergency Department. Kristi's impact is reflected in the tremendous growth of her team, including achieving the most improved employee engagement scores in the department.

Through her approachable leadership style, genuine support of staff, and commitment to excellence, she has created a culture where team members feel valued, heard, and empowered. Recently recognized with the Passion for the Promise Award, Kristi exemplifies our organization's values every day. She leads with compassion, integrity, and resilience, always advocating for both patients and staff. Kristi's ability to inspire others, improve team culture, and lead through challenges makes her an exceptional nurse leader and highly deserving of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award.