Heather has been a phenomenal manager for our unit from the day that she was hired. She has taught us, fought for us, stood side by side with us, and cried with us. She is constantly looking at ways to improve not only our unit, but provide support for us as nurses and as people. She, along with our other co-workers, have become family. However, this is not the only reason that I want to nominate her. As the COVID-19 virus spread around the world and leaked into the United States, our team at Schneck began devising a plan on how to handle this new and unknown virus.
When it was decided that MAACU would become the designated location of possible and positive COVID-19 patients, she began working non-stop (even more than she already did prior-which is more than most!) day and night for us. When she wasn't working 12-16 hour shifts every day at the hospital, she was researching and planning at home to improve patient care and staff health. She fought for our safety when so much was unknown. She updated us each day with new information to help ease the confusion. She picked up more shifts as a floor nurse in ICU/MAACU when staffing was short in addition to already working so many hours as a manager. She has done SO much for us, that I am in complete awe of her spirit and determination for the benefit of not only the patient but as us as "simple nurses." We all felt as though we dove into the unknown, but we weren't scared or overwhelmed because we knew that she would lead us through. Her actions encouraged me personally and drove me to be better, to work harder, and to smile more often. Because in the end, we are all in this together, in order to provide the safest and best care possible for the patient.
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She has gone above and beyond the expectations of a nurse manager. She takes care of our units to ensure that our patients are safe and cared for as well as her staff. She works on the floor covering nightshifts and weekends. She advocates for us to ensure that we have everything we need to provide the best care possible. She is also very kind-hearted and considerate. She frequently communicates with us to help us not only on a professional level but also on a personal level. I have never had a boss who cares for her staff the way that she does. She is a leader and role model and I am proud to have her as my boss.
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Heather has always been an awesome manager (approachable, keeps us informed, provides the staff with what we need to function as a unit)- however, she's gone above and beyond during this stressful time of COVID. She called us each individually at the beginning so we wouldn't be blind-sided when we arrived to work, she sends updates almost daily and has been checking in on both shifts. She has made a scary situation a little easier to handle.
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Heather has always gone above and beyond to take care of all of us. She is always there to lend a helping hand, even if it means staying at the hospital late or even picking up shifts to help us out. I know I can always count on her and can even talk to her about anything. I truly look up to her. She's not just my manager she is my role model and hero. I aspire to be even half the woman she is. Heather is the most genuine and hardworking person I've ever met. She is a true DAISY Nurse Leader.