East Georgia Regional Medical Center awarded its first DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award to CNO Marie Burdett, MSN, RN. Marie has served as CNO since 2016. During her tenure, she has led the organization to measurable improvements in patient care and staff retention.

Reduced nurse turnover from 31% to 14% 
Improving the hospital's CMS Star Rating 
Leading the hospital to certification as an Accredited Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Primary Stroke Center 

One of her Nurse Directors emphasized Marie's far-reaching impact. "Marie doesn't just lead from the top, she leads from within. Her presence is felt in every unit, and her commitment to excellence has shaped not only our nursing departments but also the supporting teams of rehab and cardiopulmonary. She sets high standards, but she lifts you up to meet them." 

Another Nurse Leader stated, "Her mentorship has pushed so many of us to grow not only within our departments, but in our own personal leadership journey. She models what it means to lead with integrity, vision, and heart."

Marie has been a nurse for 35 years. She has been honored for two consecutive years by Becker's Healthcare as one of its "CNOs to Know", a national recognition for nurse executives who demonstrate visionary leadership, tackle staffing challenges, and champion professional development. 

Marie has championed a culture of Nurse recognition by bringing the DAISY program to the hospital in 2017. Since then, 35 bedside nurses have been awarded individual DAISY awards and 5 DAISY Nurse Leader Awards.