May 2023
Alyssa
Bruno
,
BSN, RN-C, CLC
Family Birthplace
Unity Hospital
Rochester
,
NY
United States
Alyssa, with her compassionate, creative, educated, and serving characteristics has a passion to create a culture on her unit that is cohesive to providing safe, quality patient-centered care.
Prior to Alyssa taking on this role, this department had a significant amount of leadership turnover, opportunities for improved patient outcomes, and a need for synergy between the disciplines that make this department function. Alyssa is dedicated to ensuring every patient and family that comes to the FBP receives the highest quality care, delivered with compassion, respect, and dignity.
I not only have the privilege of working with Alyssa as a colleague but as a patient delivering both my children at the FBP. These two lenses have allowed me to professionally witness her leadership skills and ability to motivate and engage with her team and reap the benefits of that through the patient experience.
Alyssa’s ability to engage in crucial conversations, advocate for her unit, and collaborate with all roles have created an environment team members are proud to work in, other leaders try to emulate and patients seek treatment. She embodies the essence and spirit of the DAISY Leader Award and deserves recognition for the impact she has had on her team and the community.
***
Alyssa has excelled in her role as nursing director on the August family birthplace. She assumed the role at a time of turmoil in the heart of the COVID pandemic and vaccination requirements. She very quickly fostered the trust and admiration of her team. She was able to navigate emotionally challenging issues for her team by working collaboratively on solutions. For issues impacting the well-being of her team and the well-being of patients, she has consistently demonstrated a willingness to take on difficult conversations. She consistently advocates for her team and at the same time holds her team accountable. Her calm approachable demeanor along with her willingness to take on difficult issues has led to a clear shift in culture on the labor and delivery unit. The atmosphere of cooperation, dedication, and collegiality on the labor and delivery floor is in large part due to her leadership. Alyssa has empowered her team in general but specifically fostered leadership skills in multiple team members by appropriately delegating important patient safety and quality improvement projects and initiatives. Her willingness to provide autonomy to her team has been an important part of the positive cultural shift on the Birth Place. Alyssa has clearly established an open relationship with her team so that team members are comfortable bringing concerns to her. She is skilled at identifying which of those concerns need to be brought to hospital and system leadership and at ensuring that those concerns are addressed. Alyssa's dedication, skillful open leadership, and compassion for patients and her team are a true asset to our system.
***
I came to know Alyssa well as a young leader when she worked as the manager of the August Family Birth Place at Unity. She showed herself to be wise beyond her years, calm and mature in her leadership, and a great role model and resource for her peers. Her calm and thoughtful demeanor was apparent in her approach to challenges. She led the team through the pandemic and when asked, rose to the challenge of becoming the Director of the August Family Birth Place when the department and team needed her most.
Alyssa's success leading the team stems from many attributes that appear to come with ease. She is accessible. When she became the manager of the unit, she insisted that a former storage area be made into her office so that she could be front and center on the unit at all times - with her door open. In fact, she struggled to move back to the administrative suite once she was named Director! Although her door is always open in this suite as well, her team is a magnet for her and as such, she is rarely found behind her desk.
She is available. Alyssa arrives early each morning to round on her teams before 7 am signout. In fact, on a recent 24-hour call, the charge nurse stated around 6:30a, "How strange. Alyssa has not said hi yet." I shared that she had an appointment that morning and would be in a little late, but took notice of the fact that the team knows they can depend on her to check in. She rounds with both her night teams and day teams consistently.
She is an advocate for her team, thinking creatively about the use of resources and how to craftily request more when the team needs help and funds are tight. She fosters collaborative problem-solving and encourages her team members to share what they may see as a solution rather than ask her to solve a concern independently.
You will find her in scrubs when necessary! Alyssa is an absolute team player. Her willingness to jump in fosters mutual respect and demonstrates her responsiveness to the patients', unit, and team's needs.
Alyssa has a beautiful way with patients and families. She navigates the most difficult conversations during leader rounds or in response to patient feedback and delivers on her promises to families. She is quick to take on the most complex task or conversation, even knowing it will be a difficult one.
She is emotionally intelligent and expresses herself impressively. Whether it be in person presenting, in weekly Monday Memos, in handwritten cards to staff, or in emails to the department, she uses her words often in a way that is genuine, kind, and memorable.
Alyssa is a gem. I am so fortunate to work alongside her. I am in awe of her mature, intelligent, thoughtful leadership style.
***
Alyssa Bruno as the Director of Nursing for the August Family Birth Place is most deserving of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. She has a natural talent to be a leader and enjoys the ability to lead her team through all of the daily and worldly challenges that healthcare presents her with. Alyssa, with her compassionate, creative, educated, and serving characteristics has a passion to create a culture on her unit that is cohesive to providing safe, quality patient-centered care. Alyssa believes that exceptional care for patients begins the moment they enter our facility and is driven by the environment and front-facing care provided to them by their healthcare team members. She always reminds her team members of this by saying “A patient will forever be able to close their eyes and remember who was with them and how they were treated for this life-changing moment of welcoming their baby.”
Alyssa is a trusted leader to her team members as she is fair and competent in all her decisions, listens with the most attentive ears, speaks with passion on behalf of her team, and makes safety for all one of her top priorities. She ensures her team has all the proper equipment needed and holds “white board sessions” for staff to make suggestions of needs and improvements for the unit. Afterward, Alyssa will work tirelessly to make as many of the suggestions a reality while maintaining an appropriate budget and seeking approval from senior leadership. Sometimes, creativity is required to acquire needs for the unit and Alyssa will think long and hard on ways to accomplish difficult tasks and always sees them through. Alyssa also is attentive to the emotional and physical needs of her team. She knows her team well and is the first to know when one of her staff is “off” and will reach out to them confidentially to see if she can help in any way. In addition, Alyssa initiated events called “Code Lavender” for her team which is a time when staff can come together to discuss a traumatic and emotional event. These are typically led by our unit social worker and provide comfort and healing to staff when they need it most so they can maintain positive mental health in the work setting over time. Alyssa also goes above and beyond to recognize staff as she has learned that her team appreciates that greatly. She has led her leadership team to write thank you notes to staff for jobs well done. In addition, she recognizes staff who have met milestones in their career, education, and trainings by congratulating them in weekly newsletters, in huddles, and one on one. To add, Alyssa prioritizes educational opportunities and seeks out options for staff and encourages attendance whenever possible.
Alyssa maintains an “open door policy” at all times to listen to staff whenever needed and consistently encourages staff to put family first and to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This is greatly appreciated by staff and is stated to be a reason to stay with our team when staff are asked. Her open-door policy and posted contact information throughout the unit help to make her very accessible to staff as well as her long hours put forth to be present in person at multiple shifts throughout the week. She is always ready to jump in and help and/or lead when her team needs her most. This may include stepping onto the floor to help with patient care, give suggestions to the charge nurse, or calling a huddle to gather the team and give a “pep talk” during a challenging time. Alyssa consistently is open to learning and bettering herself as a leader and not for herself…but for her team and the patients they serve. This eagerness to learn mixed with her natural heart for leading and women’s health are what makes her a truly exceptional leader. She is a role model for many and is very much deserving of being recognized as a DAISY Nurse Leader.
***
Alyssa has been an amazing leader in our unit. I have been here for her as the Nurse Manager and then her transition to Director. I have seen her step up to do everything she can to try to make our unit run smoothly at all times and most especially when we feel we are drowning. She is quick to help and quick to listen and ask her staff what they need instead of just assuming. She also has an amazing understanding that while we are all dedicated to our patients and our unit that we all also have families, and she is a huge advocate for making sure her staff has a great work-life balance. It is amazing to work with someone who understands that her nurses have emotional wells that need to be filled in order to continue to be her warriors on our team helping Moms bring babies into this world safely and with compassion. It is because of Alyssa that I have been able to actually continue to work full time and actually spend MORE time with my family without sacrificing my work ethic and my commitment to either my family team or my Family Birth Place team. Thank You Alyssa for all you do for us!
***
Alyssa has been a wonderful leader and director of our team here at FBP. She has worked hard to produce a culture of safety while providing ample opportunities for education among staff. She provides the tools to help grow you as an individual but also as a nurse, she provides the watering can and we are the garden. We are like family here at FBP, if someone is in need of help outside of work, we rally together to support one another, and Alyssa has been instrumental in facilitating the family atmosphere. Thank you, Alyssa, for all you do for all of your FBP family, we appreciate you!
***
I have worked with Alyssa for many years. She has always been a dedicated and reliable employer and coworker. She’s always willing to assist and support her fellow coworkers. This has contributed to both her roles as manager and now director of Family Birth Place. As a director, she has advocated for her staff, and supported, and encouraged our growth. She makes everyone feel needed as part of the team. She has proven to be a true leader. The FBP is fortunate to have her in the director role.
***
Alyssa is what I would call a true leader and friend. Alyssa is always here on the unit for her staff, she supports us and guides us in the best way possible. Another good thing about Alyssa is she trusts her staff and the staff trust her. Alyssa is always a leader who helps out her staff in all the roles we do to run the unit. She has made great change to the FBP and I look forward to continue to work alongside Alyssa.
***
Alyssa is one of the best leaders I have ever had the pleasure to work alongside. She is a good listener, maintains fairness, and is honest to a fault. She takes into account all aspects of the individuals with whom she works- a rare quality in a leader. She gives team members the opportunity to voice their opinions, process difficult situations, and allow space for empowerment in all circumstances. She is most deserving of this award.
***
It has been a joy and privilege to watch you grow into this leadership role. I remember precepting you when you began your career here on FBP and I knew then that you were going to do great things. Thank you for fulfilling your calling as a great nurse and leader!
***
Alyssa has always been a nurse who held people accountable for excellence. As a staff nurse, she approached others with concerns, and as a leader, she asks for things from the staff that she has done, and would be willing to do herself if needed. It is so important to have a leader who is willing to get involved in direct patient care, and who understands the concerns of the staff who provide direct patient care every day. Alyssa took the uncertainty and stress of the covid pandemic and pursued every opportunity to build up staff resiliency, increase retention, and create a culture of support, collaboration, and family. This is especially meaningful when one considers the challenges FBP faced prior to the pandemic. It speaks volumes that staff who have left FBP under prior leadership, in times of different cultures, have been welcomed back without question. As one of those nurses, I can say upon my return I felt my skills and experience were valued. I am encouraged to improve myself, and the culture here at FBP is to invest in the growth of the staff. I am thankful to have a leader who took on a unit that had been difficult to manage in previous years and transformed it into a place where the environment is welcoming, and many of the barriers to patient care that existed in the past have been addressed
***
When I think of what a leader should possess, I think of passion, dedication, and commitment. Those are all of the qualities that Alyssa exemplifies. Alyssa is a true leader that has inspired her staff to become the best possible nurses they can be. I am proud to say that I am part of The Family Birth Place.
I not only have the privilege of working with Alyssa as a colleague but as a patient delivering both my children at the FBP. These two lenses have allowed me to professionally witness her leadership skills and ability to motivate and engage with her team and reap the benefits of that through the patient experience.
Alyssa’s ability to engage in crucial conversations, advocate for her unit, and collaborate with all roles have created an environment team members are proud to work in, other leaders try to emulate and patients seek treatment. She embodies the essence and spirit of the DAISY Leader Award and deserves recognition for the impact she has had on her team and the community.
***
Alyssa has excelled in her role as nursing director on the August family birthplace. She assumed the role at a time of turmoil in the heart of the COVID pandemic and vaccination requirements. She very quickly fostered the trust and admiration of her team. She was able to navigate emotionally challenging issues for her team by working collaboratively on solutions. For issues impacting the well-being of her team and the well-being of patients, she has consistently demonstrated a willingness to take on difficult conversations. She consistently advocates for her team and at the same time holds her team accountable. Her calm approachable demeanor along with her willingness to take on difficult issues has led to a clear shift in culture on the labor and delivery unit. The atmosphere of cooperation, dedication, and collegiality on the labor and delivery floor is in large part due to her leadership. Alyssa has empowered her team in general but specifically fostered leadership skills in multiple team members by appropriately delegating important patient safety and quality improvement projects and initiatives. Her willingness to provide autonomy to her team has been an important part of the positive cultural shift on the Birth Place. Alyssa has clearly established an open relationship with her team so that team members are comfortable bringing concerns to her. She is skilled at identifying which of those concerns need to be brought to hospital and system leadership and at ensuring that those concerns are addressed. Alyssa's dedication, skillful open leadership, and compassion for patients and her team are a true asset to our system.
***
I came to know Alyssa well as a young leader when she worked as the manager of the August Family Birth Place at Unity. She showed herself to be wise beyond her years, calm and mature in her leadership, and a great role model and resource for her peers. Her calm and thoughtful demeanor was apparent in her approach to challenges. She led the team through the pandemic and when asked, rose to the challenge of becoming the Director of the August Family Birth Place when the department and team needed her most.
Alyssa's success leading the team stems from many attributes that appear to come with ease. She is accessible. When she became the manager of the unit, she insisted that a former storage area be made into her office so that she could be front and center on the unit at all times - with her door open. In fact, she struggled to move back to the administrative suite once she was named Director! Although her door is always open in this suite as well, her team is a magnet for her and as such, she is rarely found behind her desk.
She is available. Alyssa arrives early each morning to round on her teams before 7 am signout. In fact, on a recent 24-hour call, the charge nurse stated around 6:30a, "How strange. Alyssa has not said hi yet." I shared that she had an appointment that morning and would be in a little late, but took notice of the fact that the team knows they can depend on her to check in. She rounds with both her night teams and day teams consistently.
She is an advocate for her team, thinking creatively about the use of resources and how to craftily request more when the team needs help and funds are tight. She fosters collaborative problem-solving and encourages her team members to share what they may see as a solution rather than ask her to solve a concern independently.
You will find her in scrubs when necessary! Alyssa is an absolute team player. Her willingness to jump in fosters mutual respect and demonstrates her responsiveness to the patients', unit, and team's needs.
Alyssa has a beautiful way with patients and families. She navigates the most difficult conversations during leader rounds or in response to patient feedback and delivers on her promises to families. She is quick to take on the most complex task or conversation, even knowing it will be a difficult one.
She is emotionally intelligent and expresses herself impressively. Whether it be in person presenting, in weekly Monday Memos, in handwritten cards to staff, or in emails to the department, she uses her words often in a way that is genuine, kind, and memorable.
Alyssa is a gem. I am so fortunate to work alongside her. I am in awe of her mature, intelligent, thoughtful leadership style.
***
Alyssa Bruno as the Director of Nursing for the August Family Birth Place is most deserving of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. She has a natural talent to be a leader and enjoys the ability to lead her team through all of the daily and worldly challenges that healthcare presents her with. Alyssa, with her compassionate, creative, educated, and serving characteristics has a passion to create a culture on her unit that is cohesive to providing safe, quality patient-centered care. Alyssa believes that exceptional care for patients begins the moment they enter our facility and is driven by the environment and front-facing care provided to them by their healthcare team members. She always reminds her team members of this by saying “A patient will forever be able to close their eyes and remember who was with them and how they were treated for this life-changing moment of welcoming their baby.”
Alyssa is a trusted leader to her team members as she is fair and competent in all her decisions, listens with the most attentive ears, speaks with passion on behalf of her team, and makes safety for all one of her top priorities. She ensures her team has all the proper equipment needed and holds “white board sessions” for staff to make suggestions of needs and improvements for the unit. Afterward, Alyssa will work tirelessly to make as many of the suggestions a reality while maintaining an appropriate budget and seeking approval from senior leadership. Sometimes, creativity is required to acquire needs for the unit and Alyssa will think long and hard on ways to accomplish difficult tasks and always sees them through. Alyssa also is attentive to the emotional and physical needs of her team. She knows her team well and is the first to know when one of her staff is “off” and will reach out to them confidentially to see if she can help in any way. In addition, Alyssa initiated events called “Code Lavender” for her team which is a time when staff can come together to discuss a traumatic and emotional event. These are typically led by our unit social worker and provide comfort and healing to staff when they need it most so they can maintain positive mental health in the work setting over time. Alyssa also goes above and beyond to recognize staff as she has learned that her team appreciates that greatly. She has led her leadership team to write thank you notes to staff for jobs well done. In addition, she recognizes staff who have met milestones in their career, education, and trainings by congratulating them in weekly newsletters, in huddles, and one on one. To add, Alyssa prioritizes educational opportunities and seeks out options for staff and encourages attendance whenever possible.
Alyssa maintains an “open door policy” at all times to listen to staff whenever needed and consistently encourages staff to put family first and to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This is greatly appreciated by staff and is stated to be a reason to stay with our team when staff are asked. Her open-door policy and posted contact information throughout the unit help to make her very accessible to staff as well as her long hours put forth to be present in person at multiple shifts throughout the week. She is always ready to jump in and help and/or lead when her team needs her most. This may include stepping onto the floor to help with patient care, give suggestions to the charge nurse, or calling a huddle to gather the team and give a “pep talk” during a challenging time. Alyssa consistently is open to learning and bettering herself as a leader and not for herself…but for her team and the patients they serve. This eagerness to learn mixed with her natural heart for leading and women’s health are what makes her a truly exceptional leader. She is a role model for many and is very much deserving of being recognized as a DAISY Nurse Leader.
***
Alyssa has been an amazing leader in our unit. I have been here for her as the Nurse Manager and then her transition to Director. I have seen her step up to do everything she can to try to make our unit run smoothly at all times and most especially when we feel we are drowning. She is quick to help and quick to listen and ask her staff what they need instead of just assuming. She also has an amazing understanding that while we are all dedicated to our patients and our unit that we all also have families, and she is a huge advocate for making sure her staff has a great work-life balance. It is amazing to work with someone who understands that her nurses have emotional wells that need to be filled in order to continue to be her warriors on our team helping Moms bring babies into this world safely and with compassion. It is because of Alyssa that I have been able to actually continue to work full time and actually spend MORE time with my family without sacrificing my work ethic and my commitment to either my family team or my Family Birth Place team. Thank You Alyssa for all you do for us!
***
Alyssa has been a wonderful leader and director of our team here at FBP. She has worked hard to produce a culture of safety while providing ample opportunities for education among staff. She provides the tools to help grow you as an individual but also as a nurse, she provides the watering can and we are the garden. We are like family here at FBP, if someone is in need of help outside of work, we rally together to support one another, and Alyssa has been instrumental in facilitating the family atmosphere. Thank you, Alyssa, for all you do for all of your FBP family, we appreciate you!
***
I have worked with Alyssa for many years. She has always been a dedicated and reliable employer and coworker. She’s always willing to assist and support her fellow coworkers. This has contributed to both her roles as manager and now director of Family Birth Place. As a director, she has advocated for her staff, and supported, and encouraged our growth. She makes everyone feel needed as part of the team. She has proven to be a true leader. The FBP is fortunate to have her in the director role.
***
Alyssa is what I would call a true leader and friend. Alyssa is always here on the unit for her staff, she supports us and guides us in the best way possible. Another good thing about Alyssa is she trusts her staff and the staff trust her. Alyssa is always a leader who helps out her staff in all the roles we do to run the unit. She has made great change to the FBP and I look forward to continue to work alongside Alyssa.
***
Alyssa is one of the best leaders I have ever had the pleasure to work alongside. She is a good listener, maintains fairness, and is honest to a fault. She takes into account all aspects of the individuals with whom she works- a rare quality in a leader. She gives team members the opportunity to voice their opinions, process difficult situations, and allow space for empowerment in all circumstances. She is most deserving of this award.
***
It has been a joy and privilege to watch you grow into this leadership role. I remember precepting you when you began your career here on FBP and I knew then that you were going to do great things. Thank you for fulfilling your calling as a great nurse and leader!
***
Alyssa has always been a nurse who held people accountable for excellence. As a staff nurse, she approached others with concerns, and as a leader, she asks for things from the staff that she has done, and would be willing to do herself if needed. It is so important to have a leader who is willing to get involved in direct patient care, and who understands the concerns of the staff who provide direct patient care every day. Alyssa took the uncertainty and stress of the covid pandemic and pursued every opportunity to build up staff resiliency, increase retention, and create a culture of support, collaboration, and family. This is especially meaningful when one considers the challenges FBP faced prior to the pandemic. It speaks volumes that staff who have left FBP under prior leadership, in times of different cultures, have been welcomed back without question. As one of those nurses, I can say upon my return I felt my skills and experience were valued. I am encouraged to improve myself, and the culture here at FBP is to invest in the growth of the staff. I am thankful to have a leader who took on a unit that had been difficult to manage in previous years and transformed it into a place where the environment is welcoming, and many of the barriers to patient care that existed in the past have been addressed
***
When I think of what a leader should possess, I think of passion, dedication, and commitment. Those are all of the qualities that Alyssa exemplifies. Alyssa is a true leader that has inspired her staff to become the best possible nurses they can be. I am proud to say that I am part of The Family Birth Place.