Jen is my boss. She led our team to take care of Covid-positive patients during the pandemic. Jen started this leadership and forming her team before we knew anything about Covid. With her intelligence, leadership, compassion, and strength, we all felt comfortable and safe while we were working at the bedside of our Covid positive patients.

Jen is incredible under pressure. We have had many moving pieces going on at the same time on our unit, especially when we were a Covid unit. The amount of stress working in this environment is unexplainable. We have multiple layers of PPE on for long periods of time. We are being asked to perform tasks at the bedside when other disciplines are refusing to even come on our floor. Jen led by example. She did not ask us to do anything that she would not do herself. She was a strong, well-respected leader. She made our team what it was. Now that we are getting used to our new normal, Jen is always present and leading with intelligence and compassion while we navigate our always-changing work environment.

I am proud to work on the Observation Unit. Our patient care is our first and most important priority. We are able to maintain this strongly because we are well cared for by Jen as our boss. She fosters a caring environment and takes really good care of her staff. We, in turn, take really good care of our patients.

As our leader, Jen displays and also expects all staff to create an environment where attributes of trust, compassion, mutual respect, continued professional development, and ethical behavior are supported and expected. I am grateful to work in our work environment. Jen motivates me every day when I am at work. She leads our floor with a knowledge of our “next step”.

The observation floor is very fast-paced and always changing. Jen sets a wonderful example of how to grow professionally and be open-minded about change. Every staff member on our floor looks up to Jen as a mentor. We love her. I learn from her every day. Her insights are always spot on and delivered with compassion. I always listen to her and am very grateful for her advice. Jen is always available. I have worked night shift, weekends, and day shift. Jen is always available. Jen encourages us to use our critical thinking skills to maintain a culture of safety. Jen is an incredible example of this.

She led a team who cared for patients with Covid during a pandemic. When the rest of the world was staying home and in isolation, Jen was at the hospital taking care of her staff and her community. Jen led the example of even taking care of other departments. Until we knew that housekeeping would be safe cleaning patient rooms, nursing staff under Jen’s leadership cleaned our own Covid patient’s rooms. Jen was in her PPE with a mop in her hand cleaning the walls with the rest of her staff. We know how to isolate and protect ourselves. Housekeeping did not at that time. Jen led the team to protect them. She went above and beyond to ensure safety for her staff, the hospital, and the community. It is an honor to be on her team.