Please join us in congratulating Sherie Kwong, the latest HealthTrust RN to win the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses! Known for her warmth, kindness, and dedication to those under her care, here’s what Sherie had to say about winning, her nursing motivations and philosophy, and what advice she has for others.
Helping Patients & Families Feel Safe & at Ease
It’s a phrase that’s used a lot, but in this case it’s absolutely true — Sherie Kwong is someone who makes a difference in peoples’ lives. 
Receiving not just one but multiple DAISY Award nominations that rave about her kindness, professionalism, and quality of nursing care, Sherie is always described as radiating warmth and providing comfort during difficult times.
And that’s not only because of her skills as a nurse, but also her efforts to keep patients and families informed and feeling safe when it matters most. She’s also known for her bright smile, infectious laughter, and ability to put others at ease, all of which are remembered by those under her care long afterwards.
As every nurse knows, staying on top of one’s duties while also projecting a comfortable, easy-going attitude isn’t as easy as it looks! To Sherie, though, it’s a skill that seems to come naturally, and an extension of the empathy that motivates her as a nurse.
“When a patient or a patient’s family member is in the hospital, things can be pretty scary,” she told us.
”I try to thoroughly explain everything that is going on to try to stop the fears that can be overwhelming," she added. "I also try to add my own sense of humor, and it’s always a win for me if I get a laugh or even a smile from a patient or their family member.”
Sherie’s Daisy-Petal Philosophy of Nursing
A registered nurse currently working in HCA Florida's St. Lucie Medical Center, Sherie has been in healthcare for 18 years, and part of the HealthTrust network off and on for more than 10.
And after all those years, she still finds not only inspiration but affirmation in her day-to-day duties as a nurse — and especially when it comes to the personal touch of helping others.
“Knowing that I can make a difference in even one day or an hour in the life of one of my patients or their family members motivates me,” she said.
“I feel that I'm the lucky one, who gets to meet people from various aspects of life and different ages and finding some common ground. If just one fear was taken away, or one ounce of sadness can be replaced with a little bit of laughter, that also motivates me.”
Those aren’t just inspiring words, but part of a deeper philosophy of compassionate care-giving that Sherie brings to her role, each and every day. She emphasizes the importance of "therapeutic communication," where "just lending a safe place for a patient, family member, or even a coworker to talk or vent, or just allow me to listen, means the world to me,” she explained.
“I feel that the most rewarding part of working with my patients, and my coworkers, is symbolized by the petals of the daisy,” she continued. “It’s finding my petal of the flower to interject a sense of teamwork, or letting my coworkers know that I’m there for them, and that together we make an entire flower!”
‘Never Overlook an Opportunity to Create a Bond’
So, how does someone with such a thoughtful and inspirational attitude toward nursing feel about winning the DAISY Award — and what advice would they offer others in their path to achieving recognition as a truly exceptional healthcare professional?
“I feel so honored for being recognized just for doing what comes naturally to me,” she said.
“I would tell someone that’s just beginning their healthcare journey to listen more than they speak and to never overlook an opportunity to create a bond or make a connection with a patient or a patient’s family member,” she added.
“Knowing how important you are in a patient’s healthcare journey really fills me with so much peace and happiness, and I hope you will also take time for the little things because they really do make a difference!”
Join the HealthTrust Team of Extraordinary Nurses
One again, congratulations to Sherie, and to all of the DAISY Award-winning nurses at HealthTrust! You are appreciated, and the work you do every day truly makes a difference. And if you're looking for new nursing career opportunities, you can find hundreds of open jobs at the HealthTrust nursing jobsite.
