We are honored to nominate Sharon Hensley, BSN, RN, RN-BC, for the prestigious recognition of The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. For more than four decades, Sharon Hensley has dedicated her life’s work to compassionately serving patients and contributing the very best to the nursing profession through her selfless commitment to excellence. Sharon demonstrates the very foundation of Northeast Georgia Health System’s core values, contributing to their mission of “improving the health of her community in all she does.” She is recognized for her devotion to the professional development of future nursing generations. Through Sharon’s commitment to her own professional growth, she has had the ability to serve in multiple capacities, spanning from frontline caregiver, to leader, to educator. Her numerous nursing contributions span 41 years of servanthood for not only the patients she has touched through her nursing care but also for the countless impacts she has made on her fellow nursing colleagues. The nursing profession is better today because of the impact Sharon has made within it.

Sharon began her journey into the nursing profession in 1983 as a junior nursing student at Brenau University, when she made the decision to join the NGHS team. After graduating in 1984, she became a member of the nursing staff in the Pediatric unit. Over the course of three decades, she has fulfilled numerous tasks, including being a bedside nurse, preceptor, mentor, charge nurse, and ultimately serving as the Pediatric Unit Nurse Manager. In 2016, Sharon changed her field of work from pediatrics to the care of the smallest and most fragile patients of them all, our critically ill neonates. Until the time she retired, Sharon continued to contribute to life’s most sacred moments within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) by providing the nurture and care needed to our smallest patients and their families. Sharon was steadfast in her commitment to providing excellence in nursing care, as she offered guidance and support to her colleagues. Her support has earned the praise of her nursing peers, who have acknowledged her extensive expertise in the field and have recognized the benefit of her knowledge through the education of nurses who have come after her. Not only has she shown a dedication to the forward progression of the nursing profession, but she has also invested her insightful mentorship and educational support in other roles that support nursing. As a preceptor, she has invested her time in sharing her knowledge with new nurses within the field and, through this, has gained a reputation as a valued resource for education and in teaching various skills. Sharon is known for her tactful and meticulously honed nursing skills and is alleged to have the ability to perform an intravenous procedure without any difficulty or effort.

Over the years, Sharon has been recognized on numerous occasions for her compassionate and skillful care by the parents who have entrusted her with their precious and most vulnerable loved ones. She has received countless compliments from her nursing peers over the years due to her relentless dedication to the profession, her team, and the patients in which she served.

Most recently, Sharon was the recipient of the Gainesville February DAISY Award. Her nomination submitted by a NICU family, speaks volumes to the Sharon we all know and love. Her nomination reads: “Nurse Sharon was a breath of fresh air during a very difficult time while my daughter was in the NICU. Her joyful personality and soothing attitude calmed both me and my premature daughter. While I was concerned for my baby and exhausted physically and emotionally, knowing that Nurse Sharon was keeping a watchful eye on my little one gave me the peace of mind I needed to be able to rest easy. Her years of experience showed that, as the other nurses relied on her for guidance, she was able to help her patients and their parents gracefully. She took the time to check with everyone frequently to see if they needed anything, both parents and staff. Her caring nature was well received by all, and even the fussiest baby relaxed quickly when she was there caring for them. Of all the NGHS staff I had the pleasure of interacting with during our stay, none stood out as being as exceptional and experienced as Nurse Sharon! Excellent is the only way I can describe her. I hope that she can receive this award. No matter if it's day or night, she makes everyone she interacts with feel like they are extra special.” This nomination represents just one family’s experience with their encounter with Sharon, but we are certain she has made a tremendous impact on countless families over the years.

During her retirement, Sharon continues to serve our most vulnerable patients through her compassionate care as a cuddler in the NICU. Her hands continue to bless those they encounter, offering her nurturing warmth into the night hours. Even in her retirement, Sharon’s identity as a professional nurse lives on in her servanthood, as she continues to make a difference in the lives of the tiniest of miracles.

Note: This is Sharon's 2nd DAISY Award!