Northside Hospital Gwinnett recently presented three prestigious awards for excellence in nursing care.
Each month, hospitals in the Northside system present the DAISY awards for exceptional nurses. Every two years, however, Northside Gwinnett presents the DAISY Nurse Leader Award and the DAISY Team Award for top performers.
Registered nurse Heather Mitchum, director of cardiology services, won the DAISY Nurse Leader Award for 2025.
James “Jim” Raker, R.N., won the DAISY Nurse Educator Award.
Two DAISY Team awards were presented: to the 6 South nursing team, and to the ECMO team.
“Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working alongside many exceptional leaders, but none have impacted me as profoundly as she has,” one nomination for Mitchum said. “Her leadership, compassion and unwavering dedication to both her team and her patients make her an extraordinary example of what it means to be a nurse leader.”
Another co-worker called Mitchum “an exceptional leader who consistently demonstrates outstanding work ethic, a positive attitude and unwavering support for both her team and the patients we serve.”
Despite Mitchum’s position, this colleague said, she maintains an open-door policy: “No matter how busy she is, she is always there for her team. Whether it’s answering a question, providing guidance during a difficult situation or offering a listening ear, she makes time for all of us.”
Mitchum has been with Northside since 2023.
Raker, who works in 2 South and the Surgical Trauma Neurological Intensive Care Unit, was nominated for his role in cases that met the needs of patients and their families.
In one, a father experienced a cardiac arrest at work, leaving his wife and daughters with end-of-life decisions. “His compassionate approach and exceptional communication skills created a safe space for the family to express their feelings, ensure their voices were heard and begin to process their loss.”
Raker helped the family incorporate their religious beliefs and customs into navigating the patient’s death.
At the same time, a man was involved in a car crash and was declared brain dead at the hospital. Raker supported the family through its sudden grief. “He facilitated open conversations about the realities of the situation, gently guiding the family toward acceptance while respecting their pace,” a nomination letter stated. “He provided a calm presence as he tried to help the family maintain their loved one’s dignity.”
Raker will celebrate his 20th anniversary with Northside in August.
Although the DAISY Team Award is usually presented to just one team of nurses every other year, there was a tie in 2025.
The ECMO — or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation — team works with patients whose hearts and/or lungs are failing.
A nomination letter detailed the care of a patient with lung failure. Team members collaborated with physical, occupational and speech therapists to help the patient with her activities of daily living.
“After two months on ECMO, she had become ‘one of us’ and was a beloved celebrity in our unit,” the letter stated. “She would go on daily walks and greet everyone with her signature princess wave, her smile brightening the entire unit.”
Nurses often used their own money to buy outside food for the patient, decorated her room for the holidays and facilitated a Christmas dinner and New Year’s party for her and her family.
When the patient was not accepted for a lung transplant, she was brought back to Northside Gwinnett for end-of-life care and the nurses worked to meet the patient’s final wishes.
The team on 6 South also was recognized for “the commitment they prioritize regarding patient experience and safety while embodying what it means to be an extraordinary team of nurses and essential health care workers.”
In one case, a patient had been in the unit for more than 300 days with a complex care plan and a family living out of state. Day shift supervisor Tenaya Swiden arranged for the patient to receive a manicure. Nurse clinician Caitlin Shoemaker requested a daily plan of care to treat the growing nails.
“The team demonstrated the core values of dignity, inclusion and holistic care by addressing this patient’s unique needs with respect and kindness,” a nomination letter stated. “Their actions went beyond medical support; they restored the confidence and humanity of a patient in a vulnerable time.”
Learn more about the DAISY and BEE awards at Northside.
Photo above: The ECMO team earned a DAISY Team Award for Northside Hospital Gwinnett in May 2025.
