Gem Snagg
May 2026
Gem
Snagg
,
RN, BS
Critical Care
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
Brooklyn
,
NY
United States
Yet, beyond the awards and achievements, Ms. Snagg’s true legacy lives in the countless nurses she has mentored and inspired.
For forty-five years, Gem Snagg has exemplified the very essence of compassionate nursing leadership, clinical excellence, and unwavering dedication to patient care at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County.
Born in Grenada, West Indies, Ms. Snagg embraced her passion for caring for others early in life. Her journey in nursing led her to London, England, where she completed her diploma in nursing at Lewisham Hospital School of Nursing in 1976, followed by her certification in midwifery at Lewisham Hospital School of Midwifery in 1979.
Armed with determination, compassion, and a calling to serve, she immigrated to New York in 1980 and began her career at Kings County as a staff nurse.
While working full-time at the bedside, Ms. Snagg earned her BSN from St. Joseph's University New York in 1987. Her commitment to professional growth and excellence propelled her through progressive leadership roles across the organization, including head nurse in Medicine, Adult Special Care, head nurse of the Critical Care, and ultimately Assistant Director of Nursing in Critical Care.
Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Snagg has played an instrumental role in advancing critical care nursing practice. She helped guide the modernization of clinical operations through the implementation of computerized documentation systems in critical care and computerized pharmacy order entry throughout the hospital. Her steadfast commitment to evidence-based practice and patient safety continues to influence the standard of care delivered across the institution. She also remains an active member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
Ms. Snagg’s exceptional contributions have earned recognition at both institutional and state levels. Her honors include the Excellence Award for Clinical Practice, the Executive Director’s Award for Exemplary Performance and Clinical Excellence, a DAISY Leader Award in 2018, and a New York State Proclamation Award recognizing her exemplary leadership and service during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Under Ms. Snagg’s leadership, the critical care units at Kings County have also achieved national distinction. The D3 South Critical Care Unit and Medical Intensive Care Unit received the 2024 Gold Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, while the D3 North Neurosurgical and Surgical Intensive Care Units earned the 2025 Silver Beacon Award. These honors reflect sustained excellence in patient outcomes, evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the healthy work environment she has cultivated for both staff and patients alike.
Yet, beyond the awards and achievements, Ms. Snagg’s true legacy lives in the countless nurses she has mentored and inspired.
She has guided new nurses through their earliest and most challenging moments, fostered professional growth among emerging leaders, and consistently led with humility, grace, and compassion.
Her influence extends far beyond the walls of the hospital into the broader community, where she continues to mentor students, support community health initiatives, advocate for preventive care, and visit seniors in nursing homes.
To her colleagues, she is a respected leader. To her patients and families, she is a source of comfort and hope. To generations of nurses, she is a mentor, teacher, and role model whose impact will endure for years to come.
Born in Grenada, West Indies, Ms. Snagg embraced her passion for caring for others early in life. Her journey in nursing led her to London, England, where she completed her diploma in nursing at Lewisham Hospital School of Nursing in 1976, followed by her certification in midwifery at Lewisham Hospital School of Midwifery in 1979.
Armed with determination, compassion, and a calling to serve, she immigrated to New York in 1980 and began her career at Kings County as a staff nurse.
While working full-time at the bedside, Ms. Snagg earned her BSN from St. Joseph's University New York in 1987. Her commitment to professional growth and excellence propelled her through progressive leadership roles across the organization, including head nurse in Medicine, Adult Special Care, head nurse of the Critical Care, and ultimately Assistant Director of Nursing in Critical Care.
Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Snagg has played an instrumental role in advancing critical care nursing practice. She helped guide the modernization of clinical operations through the implementation of computerized documentation systems in critical care and computerized pharmacy order entry throughout the hospital. Her steadfast commitment to evidence-based practice and patient safety continues to influence the standard of care delivered across the institution. She also remains an active member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
Ms. Snagg’s exceptional contributions have earned recognition at both institutional and state levels. Her honors include the Excellence Award for Clinical Practice, the Executive Director’s Award for Exemplary Performance and Clinical Excellence, a DAISY Leader Award in 2018, and a New York State Proclamation Award recognizing her exemplary leadership and service during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Under Ms. Snagg’s leadership, the critical care units at Kings County have also achieved national distinction. The D3 South Critical Care Unit and Medical Intensive Care Unit received the 2024 Gold Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, while the D3 North Neurosurgical and Surgical Intensive Care Units earned the 2025 Silver Beacon Award. These honors reflect sustained excellence in patient outcomes, evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the healthy work environment she has cultivated for both staff and patients alike.
Yet, beyond the awards and achievements, Ms. Snagg’s true legacy lives in the countless nurses she has mentored and inspired.
She has guided new nurses through their earliest and most challenging moments, fostered professional growth among emerging leaders, and consistently led with humility, grace, and compassion.
Her influence extends far beyond the walls of the hospital into the broader community, where she continues to mentor students, support community health initiatives, advocate for preventive care, and visit seniors in nursing homes.
To her colleagues, she is a respected leader. To her patients and families, she is a source of comfort and hope. To generations of nurses, she is a mentor, teacher, and role model whose impact will endure for years to come.