It is a privilege to nominate this candidate for the Nurse Leader DAISY Award. This candidate has been a long-standing member of our community and also a successful leader of many departments at PBRMC. Her clinical excellence is unparalleled, as she can quickly manage medical care from simple to complex. She is the first to run to a rapid and/or code to assist patients, families, and staff. When she arrives at the scene, the confidence our teams have in her immediately calms the situation. She can problem-solve on the fly and with great outcomes.

When this nurse first desired a change from OR leadership to nursing administration, she understood the assignment and went above and beyond to learn the roles and responsibilities of her new team. She fills in as House Supervisor on any shift, can switch to intake or code team responder, and accepts any challenge given to her, such as standing up a nursing peer review. By now, we all know we are talking about Ashley Lepold, and I could not be more proud of the strong, exceptional work she does in any role. Although there are many instances where she has stepped up to help her team, to name a few she quickly learned how to assemble the discharge lounge in a moment’s notice, put in ED charges during our last April computer downtime, she is the first to volunteer to spread information and education quickly to staff when needed, she knows where all the "highly coveted hidden equipment" is and everyone wants her on their team.

When staff are being celebrated, Ashley is right there cheering them on, and the pride in our hospital shines on her face. These past few weeks, she has taken a Sunday afternoon to take a patient's home meds, filled in as an ER nurse, and still readily took on nurse leader rounding. Ashley does so much for our hospital, but she is just as passionate about serving and volunteering in the community. When some of our staff were asked what Ashley meant to them, the responses were quick and on point. I wanted to let you know what a wonderful person Ashley is. I got pulled to the ER yesterday to take care of task. I was very nervous because it had been several years since I had worked there as a nurse. When I arrived, I was asked to go to the pod where they were holding all the overflow patients and help there. While I was helping the wonderful nurses, who were also from the float pool, Ashley arrived with a positive attitude and a smile, letting all of us know that today was going to be a good day. All day. Ashley was there, helping and "running" the pod so the patients could get to their assigned hospital room faster. She helped me clean patients, change beds, and transfer patients. She never once acted like she was a supervisor; she was one of us. She repeatedly told all of us what a great job we were doing and what a difference we were making in the patients' care. She made me feel appreciated and that I mattered to her and the rest of the team. She never made me feel inadequate or like I didn't know anything. She was a great teacher and mentor. We are so blessed to have her in our hospital and part of our team. 

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Ashley Lepold has outstanding nursing leadership and an unwavering commitment to patients, staff, and the nursing profession. Ashley exemplifies what true nursing leadership looks like. Every day, she leads not only through her knowledge and clinical expertise but also through compassion, integrity, and a genuine dedication to supporting those around her. Her presence brings calm and direction to even the most challenging situations. As a leader, Ashley consistently advocates for both patients and staff. She ensures that patients receive safe, compassionate, and high-quality care while fostering an environment in which nurses feel valued, supported, and empowered. One of Ashley's most remarkable qualities is her ability not only to inspire others but also to recognize the strengths in each team member and encourage professional growth. Here, leadership has created a culture of teamwork, accountability, and respect within our group. During difficult shifts, Ashley is often the steady voice of reassurance. She never hesitates to step in to help wherever needed. Her willingness to serve alongside the team, take shifts to help us out, and cover shifts during emergencies demonstrates the true spirit of nursing leadership. During especially challenging shifts, when we are overwhelmed with critically ill patients, short-staffed, and the emotional weight that often comes with caring for patients and families in their most vulnerable moments, she is always present, working bedside with the team right in the middle of the chaos, calm and focused, and present. Instead of directing from a distance, she steps in directly in to work alongside the team. Her leadership is not loud or self-seeking; it is steady, compassionate, and deeply impactful.