UNC Health Lenoir names Rachel Garris 2024 President’s Service Excellence Award of the Year Winner
UNC Health Lenoir is pleased to announce that Rachel Garris has been named the 2024 President’s Service Excellence Award (PSEA) of the year winner. Awarded annually, the PSEA of the year is presented to an employee selected by their peers who exemplifies superior performance, strong leadership, effective communication, and service excellence. Rachel has been a dedicated nurse at UNC Health Lenoir since June 2014. She began her career as a staff nurse in the Progressive Care Unit and quickly advanced to charge nurse. She later transitioned into the ICU, where she served courageously throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, Rachel is one of our highly skilled Vascular Access Nurses.
Her colleague shared, “Rachel is an excellent example of positivity, teamwork, and professionalism. She focuses on the positive even on the worst days and always looks for the silver lining. We receive compliments about her all the time, about how much of a team player she is, how well the staff can communicate with her, and how they know they can count on her.”
“Her rapport with the staff is just amazing. The staff know they can call on her, and she will do all she can to assist them, always putting the patient and their family’s needs first,” said Brittney Tice, Director of Infection Prevention. “This is invaluable when the Vascular Access nurses assist in every department throughout the hospital based on patient needs. On many occasions, she has stayed late to secure critical access for a patient or come in early to help educate a night shift nurse. Regardless of the obstacle, she is willing to take it head-on and is committed to growing our Vascular Access program to support our organization and improve patient outcomes.”
Rachel’s impact extends beyond her daily responsibilities. She is known for uplifting her teammates, fostering collaboration, and championing a culture of excellence throughout the hospital. Her commitment to lifelong learning and continuous improvement has strengthened clinical practice and enhanced patient experience. Whether she is mentoring new nurses, collaborating across units, or supporting initiatives to advance patient safety, Rachel approaches every task with compassion, purpose, and professionalism.
The mission of UNC Health Lenoir is to provide exceptional healthcare for the people we serve. We are grateful for Rachel’s unwavering dedication to our hospital, her colleagues, and our community.
About UNC Health Lenoir
UNC Health Lenoir, licensed for 199 beds, is a nonprofit hospital serving the Lenoir County area with acute, outpatient, and community health services. The hospital has a 118-year history of providing excellent care to the community. In addition to general medical, surgical, and obstetrical and gynecological care, UNC Lenoir offers specialized services including cardiology, pulmonology, oncology, radiology, and urology. Surgical specialties include general surgery, orthopedic, and bariatrics. UNC Health Lenoir affiliated with the UNC Health Care System in 2017. For more information or to find a physician, visit unclenoir.org.
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