May 2023
Kathryn
Fiddler
,
DNP, MBA, RN
Population Health
TidalHealth Peninsula Regional
Salisbury
,
MD
United States
Because of her efforts, we know more about each other and the health system. Because of her efforts, we work differently. Because of her efforts, we are a stronger team.
In 1999, the DAISY Award was created to honor the compassionate care that nurses provide by J. Patrick Barnes' family, who spent 8 weeks in the hospital with their son as they navigated his complex medical situation. We present the DAISY Award to nurses at both TidalHealth Peninsula Regional and TidalHealth Nanticoke throughout the year for the excellent clinical care that they provide. The DAISY Foundation also offers a DAISY Nurse Lead Award for nursing staff to honor leaders who impact their ability to provide quality, compassionate care. Today, we would like to recognize one such leader at TidalHealth.
Clinical roles and leadership have always been challenging but the past three years have multiplied those challenges exponentially. Nursing, respiratory, and physical medicine leaders go to bed many nights concerned about their staff and the patients on their units.
And then there is the person that has led this group of leaders at TidalHealth for the past year. The person who has supported this team during a time of significant difficulty and uncertainty. The person who has created an environment where attributes of trust, compassion, mutual respect, continued professional development, and ethical behavior are modeled and supported. The person who has been accessible and available, encouraging problem-solving and critical thinking. A fierce advocate for the nurses who works tirelessly to ensure that the needs of the teams are communicated to organizational leadership.
In the absence of a Chief Nursing Officer, Dr. Kathryn Fiddler volunteered to serve as the interim leader of patient care services. Admittedly, we were a tough group, and she took us on without hesitation. She has managed to take a burnt-out group of nursing managers and directors and offer them direction, guidance, and encouragement. She has solidified the team over the past year by instituting things that we were resistant to and didn’t even know that we needed. She challenged us to look at our processes through a different lens and breakdown silos that we didn’t realize existed. Because of her efforts, we know more about each other and the health system. Because of her efforts, we work differently. Because of her efforts, we are a stronger team. Personally, I know I would not be here today in the position I am in without the support and encouragement of Dr. Fiddler.
Did I also mention that while she was supporting us in the role of CNO that she was still serving as the Vice President of Population Health? Dr. Fiddler’s selfless leadership and immediate response to the need is certainly not a new attribute and has been frequently witnessed by her Population Health team. It’s easily discernable in her generous service to our country, community, organization, and TidalHealth family. She makes personal sacrifices for the good of others, teaches and challenges her leaders, and leads with a clear sense of purpose. She is the ladder we climb on to lift ourselves, and firmly maintains our strong foundation. We are grateful for her guidance, support, and friendship. Most recently, we have been afforded the opportunity to stand in awe of her courage, resilience, and inspirational character.
For all these reasons and for all that she has meant to our nurses, ancillary staff, respiratory team, physical medicine team, population health, and countless others, we are honored to present Dr. Kathryn Fiddler with the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Thank you, Dr. Fiddler, on behalf of the entire Population Health and Patient Care Services Teams.
Clinical roles and leadership have always been challenging but the past three years have multiplied those challenges exponentially. Nursing, respiratory, and physical medicine leaders go to bed many nights concerned about their staff and the patients on their units.
And then there is the person that has led this group of leaders at TidalHealth for the past year. The person who has supported this team during a time of significant difficulty and uncertainty. The person who has created an environment where attributes of trust, compassion, mutual respect, continued professional development, and ethical behavior are modeled and supported. The person who has been accessible and available, encouraging problem-solving and critical thinking. A fierce advocate for the nurses who works tirelessly to ensure that the needs of the teams are communicated to organizational leadership.
In the absence of a Chief Nursing Officer, Dr. Kathryn Fiddler volunteered to serve as the interim leader of patient care services. Admittedly, we were a tough group, and she took us on without hesitation. She has managed to take a burnt-out group of nursing managers and directors and offer them direction, guidance, and encouragement. She has solidified the team over the past year by instituting things that we were resistant to and didn’t even know that we needed. She challenged us to look at our processes through a different lens and breakdown silos that we didn’t realize existed. Because of her efforts, we know more about each other and the health system. Because of her efforts, we work differently. Because of her efforts, we are a stronger team. Personally, I know I would not be here today in the position I am in without the support and encouragement of Dr. Fiddler.
Did I also mention that while she was supporting us in the role of CNO that she was still serving as the Vice President of Population Health? Dr. Fiddler’s selfless leadership and immediate response to the need is certainly not a new attribute and has been frequently witnessed by her Population Health team. It’s easily discernable in her generous service to our country, community, organization, and TidalHealth family. She makes personal sacrifices for the good of others, teaches and challenges her leaders, and leads with a clear sense of purpose. She is the ladder we climb on to lift ourselves, and firmly maintains our strong foundation. We are grateful for her guidance, support, and friendship. Most recently, we have been afforded the opportunity to stand in awe of her courage, resilience, and inspirational character.
For all these reasons and for all that she has meant to our nurses, ancillary staff, respiratory team, physical medicine team, population health, and countless others, we are honored to present Dr. Kathryn Fiddler with the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Thank you, Dr. Fiddler, on behalf of the entire Population Health and Patient Care Services Teams.