Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center Nursing
- Mission, Vision and Values
- Professional Practice Model
- Care Delivery Model
- Shared Leadership
- Professional Development
- Professional Affiliations
Nursing Mission
Wellstar Nursing: Caring Compassionately, Practicing Professionally
Nursing Vision
Wellstar nurses will be recognized as a national leader in the practice of nursing by promoting holistic patient and family-centered care, quality and innovation, education, evidence-based practice, and research.
Nursing Values
We serve with compassion. We pursue excellence. We honor every voice.
Wellstar Nursing Professional Practice Model
The Wellstar Nursing Professional Practice Model (PPM) is grounded in five practice sustaining elements that encircle nursing’s mission and values, those nurses care for, and how care is delivered.
The star, created by the continuous flow of the practice elements, represents exceptional care provided by exceptional caring, professional nurses.
The heart in the center represents how care is delivered across the continuum supporting Wellstar’s belief in a life well-lived.
Care Delivery Model
The Holistic Patient-and Family-Centered Care Delivery Model is at the center of the Nursing Professional Practice Model and addresses those nurses caring for the patient, the family and the community, and how care is provided. The heart represents Holistic Patient- and Family-Centered Care, encompassing the art and science of nursing. Holistic care recognizes the patient as a whole and acknowledges the interdependence among the body, mind and spirit’s role in health and well-being, and is inclusive of the patient’s social paradigms with family and community. The patient and family are active partners with nurses, as care is viewed as doing things with and not to or for the patient. We believe this level of participation in care leads to a higher level of patient engagement, happiness and recovery. The Wellstar Nursing Care Delivery Model is a contemporary model, not based on a nurse theorist, but rather grounded in the elements of Holistic nursing, principles of patient- and family-centered care, and professional nursing ethics.
Shared Leadership
Embracing Shared Leadership fosters a culture that is rooted in team member engagement, collaboration, and trust, resulting in an enriched work environment that promotes nursing excellence at all levels of practice. By adopting the principle tenets of equity, partnership, accountability and ownership, our nurses are empowered to influence their professional practice through our shared decision-making structure across the continuum of care.
Rising Star Nurse Residency Program
The Wellstar Nurse Residency Program (NRP) is a 12-month program designed to help new graduate RNs successfully transition from advanced beginners to become competent professionals. The NRP facilitates experiences and learning that contribute to the newly licensed RNs understanding and management of professional concepts such as role development, conflict resolution, delegation, quality outcomes, ethics, diversity, inclusion, and professional research.
Nurse Residency Program Objectives
- Utilizing effective decision-making skills
- Providing clinical nursing leadership at the point of care
- Incorporating research-based evidence into practice
- Strengthening professional commitment to nursing
- Formulating an individual development plan
Preceptor Training
Wellstar recognizes the critical role nurse preceptors play in the education, socialization, and mentoring of our new team members. Nurse preceptors are provided the tools and evidence-based training to become effective preceptors.
Nursing Specialty Education Tracks
Nursing specialty education tracks are open to new nurses joining the WWGMC nursing team and for current nurses transitioning to a different nursing practice area. Education tracks are offered in the following nursing specialty practice areas:
- Acute Care
- Critical Care
- Emergency Services
- Perioperative
- Cardiac Cath Lab
- Maternal-Infant Services
University Partnerships
Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center partners with universities in providing research and practical opportunities for students in nursing programs. These partnerships allow nursing majors to gain the experience they need, while allowing Wellstar to help mold and attract talented nurses back into the organization. Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center’s university partnerships include LaGrange College, Auburn University, University of West Georgia, Columbus State University, West Georgia Technical College, and Southern Union State Community College.Sigma Mu Phi/Sigma Theta Tau
Sigma Mu Phi at-Large is a local professional nursing chapter which is part of the global nursing honor society, today known as Sigma. Sigma was founded as Sigma Theta Tau in 1922 by six nursing students at Indiana University. From those six founding members, our organization has grown to more than 135,000 active members, in more than 530 chapters in over 100 countries around the world. Sigma, at the global and local level, aims to foster high professional standards, recognize superior achievement and leadership qualities, encourage creative work, and strengthen commitment to the ideals and purpose of the profession. Sigma’s mission is to “Advance world health and celebrate nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service.”
In 2019, Sigma Mu Phi at-Large was introduced as an innovative Sigma chapter combining the nursing power of Kennesaw State University and Wellstar Health System. This unique partnership harnesses the power of thousands of nurses in our region. In October of 2019, five Wellstar hospitals joined the Sigma Mu Phi at-Large chapter as practice settings. Globally, Mu Phi was just the 5th chapter to add practices settings and is the first and only chapter in Region 7 to include practice settings. Region 7 includes: South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Finally, Mu Phi is a close second to Nu Beta (Johns Hopkins) in regard to the number of practice settings. We’re global leaders rooted here at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center with our local community of nurses.
Clinical Excellence, Research and Commitment to Improvement
Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center nurses contribute to new knowledge through conducting and participating in nursing research to advance clinical and professional practice. Presenting nursing evidence-based practice projects and outcomes via poster and podium presentations locally and nationally is supported and encouraged.
Nursing Research
As professionals, nurses contribute to creating new knowledge through research development and implementation of evidence-based care. Wellstar supports and encourages nurses to participate in evidence-based projects, including newly licensed RNs, experienced clinical nurses and nurse leaders.
Research Studies
- Further Validation of the Trustworthiness Indicator Study
- Journal Club as a Strategy to Enhance Nurses' Self-Efficacy in Implementing Evidence-Based Practice
- Nurses Perspectives on AI Nurse Assistant "SWIFT"
- Transforming Clinical Education Through Simulation: A University–Community Hospital Partnership
Resource Support
- Wellstar Research Institute
- Wellstar system-wide Institutional Review Board (IRB)
- Electronic access to journals and books
- Library resources to support literature reviews
- Academic partners collaborative nursing research
- Wellstar Nursing Innovation Council
- Annual Tools for the Nurse Scientist seminar series
Awards and Recognition
Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center Hospital Awards & Designations
- ANCC Pathway to Excellence Designation (2023)
- The Sterling Council Georgia Oglethorpe Award (2023)
- AACN ICU Beacon Award for Excellence—Gold Level (2024)
- AMSN PRISM Award, 6S Medical Unit (2025)
- ENA Lantern Award (2026)
- Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Surgery and Robotics (2023)
- CNOR Strong Award (2024, 3rd designation)
- GHA Circle of Excellence Award (2024, 2025)
- GHA Patient Safety & Quality Summit Awards (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- Leapfrog grade “A” (2025, 2026)
- CMS 5 Star Rating (2026)
- Women’s Choice Awards
- Best 100 Hospitals for Patient Experience (2026)
- Best Hospitals Minimally Invasive Surgery (2026)
- Best Hospitals ER Wait Time & Efficiency (2025)
- Best Hospitals Emergency Care (2026)
- Best Hospitals Mammogram (2025)
- Beckers Hospital Review 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare (2025)
- AHA/ASA
- Mission: Lifeline
- STEMI Receiving Center – Gold (2022), Silver (2020)
- NSTEMI – Gold, Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll (2024), Bronze (2022)
- STEMI – Silver, Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll (2024), Bronze (2019)
- Get With the Guidelines
- Heart Failure – Silver Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll (2024)
- Stroke – Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll (2024)
- Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS – Silver (2024)
- Joint Commission certifications
- Maternal Levels of Care Verification
- Primary Stroke Center
- Primary Heart Attack Center
- State Designations
- Level II Emergency Cardiac Care Center
- Level IV Trauma
- NRC Excellence in Patient Experience Award (2026)
Nursing Excellence Award Winners
Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center Winners
- Administrative Leadership-Lauren Atkins, BSN, RN, ICU Manager
- Innovations in Nursing Practice-Esther Baker, MSN, RN, CIC, Infection Prevention Manager
- Nightingale Nurse-Constance Green, RN, ICU/IMCU Clinical Nurse
- Preceptor-Krista Sims, RN, ED Clinical Nurse
- Provider Partner in Practice-Shawn Biddle, CRNA, Nurse Anesthetist
- Support Partner in Practice-Sydne Holston, Nurse Extern
- Nurse in Expanded Role-Evan Elder, BSN, RN, Nurse Residency Professional Development & Retention Specialist
- Nursing Practice Star-Brittany Calhoun, BSN, RN, PACU Clinical Nurse
- Innovations in Nursing Practice-Shaina White, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, Manager Professional Practice
Wellstar West Georgia Home Care & Hospice Winners
- Administrative Leadership-Renee Hunt, BSN, RN, CHPN, Hospice RN Supervisor
- Innovations in Nursing Practice-Paula Flagg, LPN, Home Care Nurse
- Nightingale Nurse-Valerie Redmond, RN, CHPN, Hospice Nurse Manager
- Preceptor-Brenda Jeter, RN, CHPN, Hospice RN Case Manager
- Provider Partner in Practice-Salman Fidahussein, MD, MHA, BBLSS, FACP, Physician
- Support Partner in Practice-Sherry Holliday, Hospice Operations Analyst
- Nurse in Expanded Role-Deana Huber, BSN, RN, Home Care Coordinator Quality Assurance
- Nursing Practice Star-Holly Scott, BSN, RN, CHPN, Hospice Nurse
Nurse of the Year
- Caroline Scarborough, MSN, RN, CCRN
Daisy Awards 2024-2026
- Gus Golden, BSN, RN, 5S Medical Unit Clinical RN
- Vicki Ragan, BSN, RN, ED Clinical RN
- Brittany Cooley, RN, ICU/IMCU Clinical RN
- Sam McCloud, RN, ICU/IMCU Clinical RN
- Endoscopy Excellence Team Award: Aimee Maddox BSN, RN, Mark Jordan RN, Emily Veal, BSN, RN, Kelsey Partin, BSN, RN, Dana Hough, RN, Ashley Ellington, BSN, RN
- Jayde Ward, BSN, RN, L&D Clinical RN
- Lauren Meadows, BSN, RN, OB/Mother Baby Clinical RN
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Cinda Morrow Lott, BSN, RN-BC, Clinical Informatics
- Katherine Clark, RN, 4S Medical-Surgical Unit Clinical RN
- Lauren Atkins, BSN, RN, 4S Medical-Surgical Unit Assistant Nurse Manager
- Tracy Moore, RN, Hospice Nurse
- Oncology Team Award: Jacqueline Dill, Latonja Woods, Lisa Cameron, Victoria Longona, Taylor Thompson, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, Kim Ragle, BSN, RN, OCN, Lisa Connell, BSN, RN -NE-BC, Betsy Barnette, BSN, RN, OCN, Regina McDonald, BSN, RN, OCN, MBA-HM, Dr. Venu Thirukonda, MD, Sarah Hersey, RN, CNOR
- Julie Montheith, BSN, RN, PACU Clinical RN
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Sarah Hersey, RN, Oncology Services
- Madelyn Battle, BSN, RN, 4S Medical-Surgical Unit Clinical RN
- Emily Calvert, BSN, RN, L&D Clinical RN
- Kathy Porter, MSN, RN, ICU/IMCU Clinical RN
- Dariene Scott, BSN, RN, L&D Clinical RN
- Deborah Walker, RN, ICU/IMCU Clinical RN
- Keller Dunnam, RN, L&D Clinical RN
- Kathleen Hulgan, RN, PACU Clinical RN
- Abigail Smith, RN, L&D Clinical RN
- LaRae Mullis, RN, NICU Clinical RN
Rose Awards 2024-2026
- Bebe Nelson
- Hailey Meadows
- Stephanie Brumbloe
- Winston Herrera
- American Guzman
- Respiratory Team Rose: Bre Johnson
Our History
Established in 1937, Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center (WWG) began as City-County Hospital, a 65-bed facility founded through a partnership among the City of LaGrange, Troup County, the Callaway Foundation, and federal Hill-Burton funding. The organization's founders shared a vision of providing exceptional, compassionate healthcare to the community, regardless of a patient's ability to pay.
As the healthcare needs of the region grew, the organization expanded its services to include cancer care, cardiovascular services, home health, and numerous specialty programs. In 1975, City-County Hospital became West Georgia Medical Center, reflecting its growing role as a regional healthcare provider. Over time, the organization evolved into West Georgia Health System, offering a full continuum of care through acute, post-acute, hospice, outpatient, and specialty services.
A significant milestone occurred in 2010 with the opening of a state-of-the-art South Tower, which expanded critical care, emergency, cardiovascular, and women's services to better serve the region's growing population. In 2016, West Georgia Health System joined Wellstar Health System and became Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, gaining access to the resources and expertise of one of Georgia's leading health systems while maintaining its strong community focus.
Throughout its history, WWG has been recognized for innovation and leadership in healthcare. Notable achievements include establishing the region's first retirement community, becoming the first hospital in Georgia to offer a hospital-affiliated home hospice program, pioneering cardiac intervention services through a Johns Hopkins clinical study, and becoming the first hospital in Georgia recognized by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer as a Network Cancer Program.
Today, WWG is a 276-bed regional referral center serving communities throughout West Georgia and East Alabama. The hospital provides comprehensive services including emergency and trauma care, cardiovascular care, cancer care, women's and infant services, neurosciences, surgical services, rehabilitation, hospice, home health, and outpatient care. The organization achieved ANCC Pathway to Excellence® designation in 2023 and has earned numerous national recognitions for quality, patient experience, safety, and clinical excellence, including Healthgrades America's 250 Best Hospitals Award, a CMS Five-Star Overall Hospital Quality Rating, and Leapfrog grade “A”.
Supported by nearly 1,300 team members, Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center continues to advance its founders' vision by delivering innovative, compassionate, and high-quality healthcare close to home for the communities it serves.