I am recommending Celena Garrett for a DAISY Award. Celena has provided excellent patient care, always goes the additional mile to help our patients and our Endoscopy staff. She is kind and compassionate and exemplifies the best qualities of nursing.

The Endoscopy units have a long history of advanced endoscopic achievements in our state. We were the first to perform endoscopic removal of stones from the common bile duct in 1978. We were the first community hospital to provide endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in North Carolina in the late 1990’s and are still the only hospital to provide EUS west of Charlotte. Advanced endoscopic therapy including enteroscopy, capsule endoscopy, ambulatory pH monitoring, esophageal and rectal motility, using EUS for celiac blocks for cancer pain, metal stents for malignancies that obstruct the GI tract, and others, are all done in the Endoscopy Units.

Advanced endoscopy means that we receive referrals from all of the western NC counties. It further means that emergency and urgent endoscopic referrals must be added to an already busy hospital Endoscopy schedule. This in turn means that our Endoscopy nurses must have enthusiasm and dedication to add and perform these urgent procedures on complex and very ill patients.

There are multiple nurses in the Endoscopy unit that have provided exceptional nursing care to our patients, but I am recommending one at this time. Celena Garrett is some one I have known, worked side by side with, and admired for about 20 years. Celena is from Madison County with high intelligence, uncommon common sense, dedication, and knowledge. She can put anyone at ease with her people skills, sincerity, and kindness. She brings a “can do” and “I will help make it happen” attitude to our unit that is vital to our success. This translates into her coming in early and staying late to accomplish what needs to be done on our patients. Endoscopy nurses are “hands on” and active partners in our procedures. Without them, we can not be endoscopists and we can not accomplish the therapy used in the 21st century. My greatest compliment to her is that there is no one I would rather have helping me accomplish our procedures on our patients than Celena. I know that with her by my side, I have an optimal chance to provide that patient with the best care we can offer them. To be excellent, you have to have a deep desire to be the best and she has that desire.

I hope that the committee will agree with me and grant Celena a much deserved DAISY Award.