Leigh fits all five qualities of a transformational leader as described by the ANA. As a staff nurse, she modeled how to care for patients professionally and compassionately. As a director she continues to be a role model by offering opportunities for staff to get involved, and by being willing to mentor anyone who is interested in learning new things to promote their advancement. Leigh will challenge a process if it makes caring for our patients more difficult or adds unnecessary steps to getting things done. On the flip side, she will not cut out corners that are important to keep in place. She has our back, but she also expects us to do our jobs well.

Leigh tries to get to know her employees and tries to foster a personal connection. She also expects our patients to be treated with respect and compassion and never lets us forget that these are people we are treating rather than a list of tasks to complete. If a staff member is passionate about a specialty field, she encourages them to pursue more training and tries to use this passion to benefit our department. She is always calm under pressure, professional, and always radiates a positive attitude. She encourages others who show enthusiasm for making improvements and supports new ideas when they are presented.

Two specific examples of why Leigh is a transformational leader are her open office hours and the day she put on scrubs to take a team. Every Tuesday Leigh sets time aside for anyone to stop by and chat. This can be a time to ask questions, voice concerns, or just have a friendly conversation. Not many directors schedule time for open-door conversations, and this truly helps her stand out because she genuinely wants staff to come and talk to her. On one particularly busy day, Leigh found some open beds in an area that is not used in the afternoons and borrowed scrubs to provide care to patients. This directly helped those patients receive treatment sooner, plus it was a huge morale booster for the unit. It not only showed that she was aware of the extra work we were doing but also showed she was willing to help us. 

Working in the current hospital environment can be challenging, but a great leadership team makes it less stressful and more rewarding. I appreciate having a leader that thinks outside the box and is always thinking of ways to improve our department. It has fostered an environment with strong teamwork and open communication, which is crucial in our area, and it makes our patients feel like they are in good hands. Many patients have commented that they were more comfortable in a stressful situation because of how well our staff works together, and I think it comes from the top down.