Brandy Irwin, MSN, RNC, PHN

Today is a great day to be here at the DAISY statue. As we begin this week of recognizing nurses for Nurses’ Week, we are taking time to recognize a Nurse Leader who is extraordinary. The Nurse Leader I want to focus on today is Brandy Irwin, a nurse who transcends and exemplifies a leader who develops culture, sets expectations, and leads by self-accountability. This leader takes constructive feedback and treats the feedback as a gift. She takes time to reflect on behaviors and performance to course correct or continue the journey. Even when there is failure, it is important to recognize failure fast and move on. This nurse leader steps up and helps others even when it is not convenient. This leader invested in making other leaders successful. This sometimes involves having crucial conversations that focus on getting it right and not dwelling on history and what is wrong right now. This leader has returned to formal education not only for professional self-improvement, but also to validate science, evidence, and ask the tough questions regarding what is happening right now and what is on the horizon. This leader is a critical thinker and makes wise and appropriate operational decisions that are patient-centered and focused. This leader has expanded her knowledge and management of a new Women’s Service line. She took a conceptualized idea and made it a reality, with patients now being seen in a clinic setting. This leader is extraordinary. I personally have a lot of trust and respect for this nurse leader. I have witnessed the depth of her maturity and leadership flourish over the last eleven years. She continues to amaze me, and I can only wait to see what she does over the next decade.