Atrium Health Advances Nursing Excellence, Strengthening Care for Patients Across Georgia
Thursday, August 6th, 2026
Atrium Health nurses across Georgia have recently been recognized for demonstrating excellence in nursing that enhances the care provided to patients and communities, as reflected by a strong showing in the state’s inaugural list of Great 100 Nurses and by Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center’s designation as a Pathway to Excellence® hospital.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) announced earlier this summer that Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center including Atrium Health Polk Medical Center, Atrium Health Cherokee Medical Center, Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Behavioral Health, Atrium Health Floyd Chattooga Emergency Department, Atrium Health Floyd Heyman Hospice Care, facilities of Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center have met credentialing criteria for its Pathway to Excellence® Program with distinction. The program recognizes a healthcare organization’s commitment to creating a positive practice environment that empowers and engages staff.
Pathway to Excellence credentialed organizations demonstrate a sustained culture of excellence that promotes job satisfaction, improves staff retention and boosts recruitment. Surveys of frontline nurses and teammate narratives confirm attainment across six overarching standards: shared decision-making, leadership, safety, quality, well-being and professional development.
“Designation as an ANCC Pathway to Excellence reflects the environment we create for our nurses so they can deliver the highest quality care to our patients every day,” said Sheila Bennett, senior vice president and chief of patient services at Atrium Health Floyd. “When nurses are supported, engaged and empowered by leadership and their peers across the care team, it directly benefits our patients through safer care, stronger outcomes and a better overall experience. We are committed to maintaining an environment that allows our teams to provide that level of care for every patient we serve.”
With the Atrium Health Floyd designation, all Atrium Health facilities in Georgia and Alabama now meet the credentials for either Magnet or Pathway designation.
ANCC also administers the Magnet Recognition Program®, a more comprehensive, empirical model that requires extensive documentation and four-day site visits. Research has shown that Magnet-recognized health organizations benefit their communities through higher patient satisfaction scores, as well as lower risk of 30-day mortality following discharge. Magnet and Pathway organizations seek reaccreditation every four years.
Additionally, the Great 100 Nurses Foundation announced its inaugural list for the state of Georgia, and Atrium Health has 18 of the 100 nurses on this prestigious roster. Atrium Health Navicent boasts 14 recognized nurses, while Atrium Health Floyd garners four. Invited recipients will be honored at a celebration Thursday, Sept. 3 in Atlanta.
To compile the list, the foundation selects exemplary nurses nominated for their concern for humanity, contributions to the profession and mentoring of others. The Great 100 Nurses Foundation was founded by P.K. Scheerle, RN, in New Orleans, La., nearly four decades ago. Since its founding, the Great 100 Celebrations have honored thousands of extraordinary nurses across Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, North Carolina and now Georgia. Funds raised through the recognition celebrations help support nursing advocacy, scholarships and research.
“This Great 100 Nurses list makes a strong statement about our nurses, as they represent only 3% of nurses in the state of Georgia but have an outsized presence on this list,” said Tracey Blalock, Georgia area chief nursing executive and chief nursing officer, Atrium Health Navicent. “Our organization works hard to attract, retain and support the most qualified and compassionate nurses to care for our patients. We are thrilled to see so many of them recognized for their dedication, hard work and professionalism.”
Media Contact: Jenna.Kurzyna@Advocatehealth.org
