Crystal is transparent when she needs to be but holds the privacy of her employees to the highest standards. She addresses an issue promptly and is reliable when being there for our staff members. Recently, we were over our heads with busy patients, and I put on my light for assistance, and here comes Crystal in the room with scrubs on, ready to help were ever needed. She is a chameleon when it comes to her job. She can adapt to her surroundings when needed. Crystal has taken on new leadership roles and is growing in her profession every day. She is not only growing herself but also encouraging and leading others to continue their education as well. She will meet with staff members and encourage them to reach for the stars and keep growing and thriving as a nurse.

She gets us involved in committees to keep us engaged in the in and now. In tough situations that Crystal must deal with related to staff, patients, management, or visitors, her ultimate resolution is to think of a fair resolution that would put the needs of the patient first. Crystal takes the Mayo Clinic’s values and holds them to a high standard in her work. Crystal has an open-door policy. If she is out of the office or out on another site, you can reach her by phone, and she will talk to you about the issue right away if she is able. She will also follow up after the conversation if needed during her off hours. She calls every morning to check in with the charge nurse if there is “Anything you need from me?” Before she leaves for the day, she will find every nurse on the floor and ask, “Is there anything you need from me before I leave?” When you bring a problem to her attention, she does not just listen but also gives you a solution. She is encouraging of others to take ownership of their specific needs and will give resources to follow through. When we were in the planning phase of optimization, Crystal made sure our input was taken seriously and brought forward. We were able to review the plans for the layout of the unit and give feedback. That feedback was later used to modify the plans based on our suggestions. This helped us feel a part of the project but also hopefully keep staff retention when you put the needs of the staff in the project. She made us feel like our input was important and useful.

Crystal has been our fearless leader throughout optimization, and the remodel, and has always advocated for the best possible outcomes for our team and unit. Having bedside OB experience herself, she “Gets it”, and we all can feel that she truly cares about the well-being of our staff and patients. She strongly values inclusion and has helped us navigate the challenges of merging cultures by considering different viewpoints, collaborating, compromising, and ultimately coming together as a team. Crystal is a very large part of us becoming an award-winning, progressive maternity care center and a place where staff feel happy and proud to work.

Crystal goes the extra mile to be available and responsive, even when she is not on site. She is currently serving in an interim role as the nurse administrator for Ambulatory Surgical Services, and Obstetrical/Gynecological services for MCHS SEMN and is doing a fantastic job balancing her manager responsibilities with her new role. She is doing it very gracefully and continues to be the approachable, responsive, and accessible manager we all know and love. Crystal encourages staff to use their strengths and get involved in the unit in unique ways. She promotes leadership development and personal growth amongst team members by not trying to do it all and sharing the workload with the team. Crystal’s leadership supports and fosters a team environment with an array of capable leaders who manage the unit each day with strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

Crystal is a strong team advocate. She initiates and encourages positive change habits such as patient event debriefing, implementing quality improvement initiatives, and having staff bring suggestions or concerns to unit council. She is excellent at promoting awareness of changes within the organization and being proactive when new changes are coming our way. Crystal is a compassionate leader who exudes empathy, kindness, approachability, and personal attention. Our unit wellness champion recently initiated a team building activity utilizing an online forum intended for staff to share their “glimmers”, or what brings them joy at work. On this forum, Crystal commented, “Hearing laughter at the nurse’s station is a glimmer for me as I sit in meetings knowing staff are enjoying their work and coworkers.” This statement is a testament to Crystal’s dedication to team building and staff satisfaction.