I couldn't think of a more deserving person for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award than Jeremy Ovington who has such an extraordinary talent for creating an environment that encompasses trust, compassion, mutual respect, ongoing professional development, ethical behavior, a shared vision, and enthusiasm to achieve better outcomes for himself and others, including patients, as well as the profession of nursing and our community.

Jeremy's talents are at times shining and at other times subtle. He is willing to travel the entire hospital as ADON and check floor to floor what each floor needs. He doesn't just check in; he gets in and gets his hands dirty. If there is a bed change, he is in on it. If there is an IV needed, he will place one. If there is a patient that needs to go upstairs, he is on it. There is nothing that Jeremy is above doing. From the littlest task, to the biggest task, Jeremy is always there. This type of leadership is a rarity. Rarely, do you find a leader who is willing to work from the ground up, once that leader has hit the top. Yet, not Jeremy, there is no task he is too big for. This makes Jeremy a leader people are willing to trust and follow. This makes Jeremy a leader that people follow by example and then there is no task too big or small they aren't willing to do. People will jump in on that bed change or that wound care or helping someone with that IV they have been struggling with. When a leader is willing to do the smallest task, the followers learn that they also aren't too big for that littlest task. This creates tight and united teams.

The magic of Jeremy is that while he does this on every floor, he then weaves the teamwork on every floor together as well. He helps each floor get along and work together as a team as well. The weekend teams, work well together, floor to floor. That is unique to nursing and this is a vision Jeremy has been able to create just by how he leads. His professionality leads to nursing professionality among all nurses within the hospital while he is ADON. This is a unique trait to Jeremy and his leadership style. He always brings a sense of calm to the chaos, actually when Jeremy is in charge, there doesn't ever really seem to be chaos, even when there is chaos because his demeanor is one of positivity, enthusiasm, and calmness. Everything always seems to running smoothly.

Jeremy also does a fantastic job of noticing the smallest details of each nurse and the unique qualities that make each nurse special. He provides recognition and positive feedback that instills confidence, trust, and respect among his nursing staff. We never forget when we get a compliment from Jeremy. It makes us feel like the sun is shining on us, even if it is just for a moment. It is still a moment we don't forget. I will never forget my first compliment from Jeremy. I can remember where I was standing and I can remember exactly what he said. It still grabs my heart every time I think of it. Such recognition from such a respected leader is not forgotten, it is upheld in the highest esteem. It makes me want to be a better nurse every day.

Just knowing I get to work with Jeremy makes me want to be a better nurse, because when he is working, we know he wants to be a better nurse. This is exemplified in everything he does. He does it with the attitude that it can always be better, it can always lead to better patient outcomes, and we can always find more optimal ways to promote and enhance the nursing field and ourselves and the lives of our patients. Jeremy Ovington creates this environment with the joy of a new nurse and with the experience of a nurse who has years of nursing under his belt, his knowledge and range of professionalism shine through to create a vision of nursing that leads us all to become better nurses and better leaders and followers for our teams and our patients through each moment that we have the opportunity to enjoy his extraordinary leadership.