Rachel Hargett
April 2026
Rachel
Hargett
,
RN
Northeast Georgia Medical Center
Gainesville
,
GA
United States
Rachel’s actions protected both the patient’s medical well‑being and her dignity.
I am honored to nominate Rachel for the DAISY Award for the extraordinary compassion, critical thinking, and patient‑centered advocacy she demonstrated during a challenging situation in our unit.
During shift change, Rachel’s patient was preparing to leave the hospital against medical advice while still on heparin and requiring multiple interventions. Instead of reacting with urgency alone, Rachel led with empathy. She took the time to sit down with the patient and genuinely listen—demonstrating our NGHS value of respectful compassion and our commitment to improving the health of our community in all we do. This is the heart of Rachel as a nurse.
The patient shared that her fear of losing her new apartment—and ultimately her sense of stability—was driving her decision to leave. Rachel immediately recognized that this was not simply a clinical issue, but a barrier tied to the patient’s safety, stability, and dignity. By understanding the patient’s “why,” she embodied Relationship‑Based Care and advocated for the patient’s needs beyond the bedside.
Rachel reassured the patient that she was not alone and asked her to trust that we would work together to address her concerns so she could stay safely in the hospital and continue healing. With initiative and determination, Rachel researched the apartment complex, contacted the leasing office herself, and arranged to have the lease documents sent directly to the unit. She then helped ensure that the paperwork was completed and returned on time, allowing the patient to secure her new home without compromising her health.
Because of Rachel’s dedication, the patient remained hospitalized, received the care she needed, and kept her future housing. Rachel’s actions protected both the patient’s medical well‑being and her dignity. She saw the whole person, not just the clinical situation, and removed barriers that were preventing the patient from choosing safe care.
If you ask Rachel about this situation, she will tell you it was “nothing special” and that she did what any nurse should do. Those of us who work alongside Rachel know that she has many more stories just like this. Rachel is a shining example of what it means to be an NGHS nurse. Her empathy, problem‑solving, and unwavering commitment to her patients truly embody the spirit of the DAISY Award. She is deeply deserving of this honor.
During shift change, Rachel’s patient was preparing to leave the hospital against medical advice while still on heparin and requiring multiple interventions. Instead of reacting with urgency alone, Rachel led with empathy. She took the time to sit down with the patient and genuinely listen—demonstrating our NGHS value of respectful compassion and our commitment to improving the health of our community in all we do. This is the heart of Rachel as a nurse.
The patient shared that her fear of losing her new apartment—and ultimately her sense of stability—was driving her decision to leave. Rachel immediately recognized that this was not simply a clinical issue, but a barrier tied to the patient’s safety, stability, and dignity. By understanding the patient’s “why,” she embodied Relationship‑Based Care and advocated for the patient’s needs beyond the bedside.
Rachel reassured the patient that she was not alone and asked her to trust that we would work together to address her concerns so she could stay safely in the hospital and continue healing. With initiative and determination, Rachel researched the apartment complex, contacted the leasing office herself, and arranged to have the lease documents sent directly to the unit. She then helped ensure that the paperwork was completed and returned on time, allowing the patient to secure her new home without compromising her health.
Because of Rachel’s dedication, the patient remained hospitalized, received the care she needed, and kept her future housing. Rachel’s actions protected both the patient’s medical well‑being and her dignity. She saw the whole person, not just the clinical situation, and removed barriers that were preventing the patient from choosing safe care.
If you ask Rachel about this situation, she will tell you it was “nothing special” and that she did what any nurse should do. Those of us who work alongside Rachel know that she has many more stories just like this. Rachel is a shining example of what it means to be an NGHS nurse. Her empathy, problem‑solving, and unwavering commitment to her patients truly embody the spirit of the DAISY Award. She is deeply deserving of this honor.