PICU nurse manager Gordon Gartrell an AACN Circle of Excellence Award winner

Published on Monday, April 1, 2024

By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu

Photos By: Joe Ellis/ UMMC Communications

Gordon Gartrell, nurse manager of Children’s of Mississippi’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, is one of 18 nurses in the country, and the only Mississippi nurse, receiving the Circle of Excellence Award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

The first Mississippian to earn a Circle of Excellence Award, Gartrell was nominated by Colbie Baird, PICU nurse educator, Wesley Smith, Nursing-Children's Hospital Services director, and registered nurses Caleb Brand and Sarah Vaughan.

“Gordon is a highly motivated and creative leader who approaches problems with optimism, curiosity and a can-do attitude,” their nomination read. “Since becoming the manager, there has not been a challenge he is not willing to take on or look for a solution for. He is always willing to jump feet first into tasks and shows the staff that he will not ask them to do anything he is not willing to do. Gordon looks for solutions by engaging the correct people in the process and always having what is right for the patient, family and/or staff involved in mind.”

Among the award criteria are relentless promotion of patient-driven excellence, strong communication skills, collaboration, effective decision-making, meaningful recognition of others, transformational leadership and the ability to address challenges and remove barriers to excellent patient care and achieve visible results.

“Circle of Excellence recipients use their voice, skills and knowledge to ensure that every patient gets the excellent care they deserve and that every nurse has the tools and skills they need to provide that care,” said AACN President Terry Davis. “They are shaping the future of nursing practice and transforming health care, helping us all to rise together.”

Award winners will be honored during AACN’s National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition (NTI), set for May 20-22 in Denver.

“I am honored to have been nominated for the Circle of Excellence and to be among the 18 chosen,” Gartrell said. “Because of the investment UMMC and Children’s of Mississippi make in their staff members, I think more Mississippians will follow in receiving this award.”

Gartrell, who earned his BSN and MSN degrees from the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing, is working on his PhD in nursing at UMMC. In 2022, he received the DAISY Nurse Leader Award at the Medical Center as part of the national DAISY program that honors exemplary nurses.

In 2023, the PICU was honored with the Beacon Award for Excellence from American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. It is the only PICU in the state and one of 20 in the country to hold the silver level Beacon Award. The honor is open to adult and pediatric intensive care and acute care units in the U.S. and abroad.

National recognition for Gartrell and the unit he manages from the AACN shows the quality of pediatric critical care at Children’s of Mississippi, said Ellen Hansen, Children’s of Mississippi chief nursing and clinical services officer.

“Gordon is an exceptional leader among exceptional leaders at Children’s of Mississippi,” she said. “He sets high standards for himself and for our PICU team because the children of Mississippi deserve excellent care. These awards recognize the significant positive difference he makes as a leader and the amazing care the PICU team delivers to Mississippi’s ill and injured children. Gordon is a lifelong learner, and he challenges himself to become more knowledgeable every day. We are fortunate to have Gordon on our team, and we are proud of Gordon and the PICU team.”