BrightStar Care Recognizes Eight Nurses and Caregivers Making a Lasting Impact on Clients and Families

Two national winners and six finalists recognized for exceptional compassion, dedication, and commitment to clients and their families

BANNOCKBURN, Ill., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BrightStar Care, a leading provider of in-home care and medical staffing solutions, today announced the winners of its annual Best & Brightest Nurse of the Year and Caregiver of the Year Awards, recognizing exceptional nurses and caregivers across its nationwide network who exemplify a commitment to compassionate, high-quality care.

Each year, BrightStar Care invites clients, family members and fellow employees to nominate nurses and caregivers who have made a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve. The awards celebrate the individuals who go above and beyond in providing care while embodying BrightStar Care's core values of compassion, integrity, excellence, trustworthiness, accountability and reliability. This year, BrightStar Care recognized one National Nurse of the Year and one National Caregiver of the Year, along with three finalists in each category. National Nurse and Caregiver of the Year recipients will each receive a $5,000 cash prize, while each finalist will receive $2,500 in recognition of their contributions to the clients and families they serve.

Best & Brightest Award Winners

Shari Rice, RN, of Omaha, Nebraska, was named National Nurse of the Year for the calming, steady presence she has provided to a pediatric patient and their family. The patient previously experienced significant anxiety surrounding their regular infusion treatments, but through the trust and connection Shari built with them, that anxiety has been greatly reduced. Her commitment to going above and beyond is perhaps best illustrated by her decision to use her own 3D printer to create figures of some of the patient's favorite characters, helping bring comfort and joy to their care experience.

LaDonna Chaney, of Chesapeake, Virginia, was named National Caregiver of the Year for providing love, compassion, and servant-hearted care to her client during the final year of her life. LaDonna formed a meaningful connection with her client and went above and beyond to create a special birthday celebration by arranging for a local family choir to perform a private concert for the client and her family. The moment was so meaningful to the client that she later requested the same family perform at her memorial service after her passing – a request that was honored.

"These awards are a reflection of the incredible people behind the care we provide," said Josh Wall, Chief Executive Officer at BrightStar Care. "Shari and LaDonna demonstrate how the strongest care relationships are built through trust, empathy and a willingness to see the person beyond the care they need. We're incredibly proud to recognize them, as well as each of this year's finalists, for the difference they make in the lives of clients and families every day."

Best & Brightest Award Finalists

Joining this year's national winners as Best & Brightest finalists are Tammy Mulchay (West Portland, OR), Elizabeth Martinez (Baltimore City/County, MD) and Amy Nguyen, CNA (Santa Barbara, CA), recognized as Caregiver of the Year finalists, as well as Joyce Eldredge, RN (Gloucester County, NJ), Madelyn "Maddie" Leader, RN (York, PA) and Kari Erdmann, RN (Northern Michigan), recognized as Nurse of the Year finalists.

BrightStar Care celebrated this year's honorees through surprise events at their respective franchise locations, bringing together colleagues, clients, and family members. Each recipient received a physical award, and nomination letters were read aloud during the celebrations. CEO Josh Wall and SVP of Clinical Operations Kelley Hill attended the national award presentations to personally recognize Shari and LaDonna.

To find out more about the 2026 Best and Brightest Winners and Finalists, please visit www.brightstarcare.com/best-brightest-awards.

About BrightStar Care
Founded in 2002, BrightStar Care is a leading franchisor of home care services with more than 420 franchised locations nationwide that provide skilled and unskilled home care to clients and custom medical staffing solutions to corporate entities. BrightStar Care franchise agencies employ more than 15,000 caregivers and 5,700 registered nurses who oversee the care and safety of each individual client. Network-wide BrightStar Care agencies are accredited by The Joint Commission, and the brand has been recognized as an Enterprise Champion for Quality for over a decade. In March 2025, BrightStar Care was acquired by Peak Rock Capital, a leading middle-market private investment firm focused on investing in growth-oriented businesses. In addition to supporting families at home, BrightStar Care partners with healthcare organizations to meet evolving staffing needs with experienced, credentialed professionals. Learn more at www.brightstarcare.com.

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SOURCE BrightStar Care