September 2022
Lesley
Chauncy
,
MSN, RNC, CEIM
NICU
Inova Alexandria Hospital
Alexandria
,
VA
United States
She is compassionate, professional, smart, the best advocate, and above all, truly committed to patient care and always striving to create an even better NICU for some of the most vulnerable patients and their families.
When I was given the opportunity to work at Inova Alexandria Hospital’s NICU in 2017 by Lesley Chauncey, I did not realize that I would be working with such an incredible team and an even more exceptional nurse leader. I have worked in various hospitals in my career, and without reservation, Ms. Chauncey is the best Clinical Director I have had the privilege to know and learn from.
Ms. Chauncey is not only a natural leader, but she is also an outstanding role model and advocate. She has been a nurse for thirty-three years. She truly listens to the needs of the unit, the patients, their families, and her staff. She works very hard to ensure that the day-to-day hospital operations within the NICU are taken care of. Ms. Chauncey is legendary for making sure that we maintain a Neonatal Resource Nurse in staffing day and night in order to provide safe ratios that ultimately help improve patient outcomes. She also makes sure that we are equipped with developmentally appropriate supplies to best aid in the supportive care of extremely premature, growth restricted, and/or sick newborns.
Ms. Chauncey is very mindful of the challenges of bedside nursing – she was a bedside NICU nurse for many years. Her actions as a nurse leader today have consistently demonstrated the importance of strong leadership skills within healthcare. Ms. Chauncey has excellent verbal and written communication skills, and she collaborates well with all the members of the multidisciplinary team. She always arrives to the unit extra early to prepare for the morning unit huddle, in addition to being available to interface with night shift staff on a daily basis.
Ms. Chauncey works tirelessly with her nursing staff and the Education Committee to make sure the team is always up-to-date on the latest evidence-based nursing practices. She recognizes the importance of continuing education and how it helps provide positive patient outcomes. She has assisted in the facilitation of multiple summit meetings by bringing outside keynote speakers within Neonatology to present on various education topics. When NICU or FCC/Mother-Baby unit is severely short-staffed, Ms. Chauncey will be the first to roll up her sleeves and work the floors.
Ms. Chauncey has excellent organizational skills and is always ten steps ahead in completing her managerial duties, such as hiring nursing staff, submitting important and lengthy paperwork needed to award yearly pay increases, critical staff bonuses, and/or assist staff when applying for advance clinical ladder, graduate school, etc.
In the years I have known Ms. Chauncey, she has never let me down and her dedication to her team and her craft is truly inspiring. Ms. Chauncey recognizes the importance of taking care of her nursing staff and has always been supportive when life demands arise. Nothing is impossible when you work for a Clinical Director such as Ms. Chauncey. She makes it possible for her staff to have a positive work-life balance. Ms. Chauncey has helped me with all my aspirations over the years, and I am so grateful for her endless support in my own professional development.
There truly is no limit on what you can accomplish when you have Lesley Chauncey as your Clinical Director. She has earned and deserves as much as she has given over the years. It is my hope that this letter and the attached testimonials from other NICU staff will demonstrate to you how invaluable Ms. Chauncey is and so deserving of The DAISY Nurse Leader Award. She is compassionate, professional, smart, the best advocate, and above all, truly committed to patient care and always striving to create an even better NICU for some of the most vulnerable patients and their families. Especially during a grueling pandemic when having strong leadership in healthcare is so vital.
Ms. Chauncey is not only a natural leader, but she is also an outstanding role model and advocate. She has been a nurse for thirty-three years. She truly listens to the needs of the unit, the patients, their families, and her staff. She works very hard to ensure that the day-to-day hospital operations within the NICU are taken care of. Ms. Chauncey is legendary for making sure that we maintain a Neonatal Resource Nurse in staffing day and night in order to provide safe ratios that ultimately help improve patient outcomes. She also makes sure that we are equipped with developmentally appropriate supplies to best aid in the supportive care of extremely premature, growth restricted, and/or sick newborns.
Ms. Chauncey is very mindful of the challenges of bedside nursing – she was a bedside NICU nurse for many years. Her actions as a nurse leader today have consistently demonstrated the importance of strong leadership skills within healthcare. Ms. Chauncey has excellent verbal and written communication skills, and she collaborates well with all the members of the multidisciplinary team. She always arrives to the unit extra early to prepare for the morning unit huddle, in addition to being available to interface with night shift staff on a daily basis.
Ms. Chauncey works tirelessly with her nursing staff and the Education Committee to make sure the team is always up-to-date on the latest evidence-based nursing practices. She recognizes the importance of continuing education and how it helps provide positive patient outcomes. She has assisted in the facilitation of multiple summit meetings by bringing outside keynote speakers within Neonatology to present on various education topics. When NICU or FCC/Mother-Baby unit is severely short-staffed, Ms. Chauncey will be the first to roll up her sleeves and work the floors.
Ms. Chauncey has excellent organizational skills and is always ten steps ahead in completing her managerial duties, such as hiring nursing staff, submitting important and lengthy paperwork needed to award yearly pay increases, critical staff bonuses, and/or assist staff when applying for advance clinical ladder, graduate school, etc.
In the years I have known Ms. Chauncey, she has never let me down and her dedication to her team and her craft is truly inspiring. Ms. Chauncey recognizes the importance of taking care of her nursing staff and has always been supportive when life demands arise. Nothing is impossible when you work for a Clinical Director such as Ms. Chauncey. She makes it possible for her staff to have a positive work-life balance. Ms. Chauncey has helped me with all my aspirations over the years, and I am so grateful for her endless support in my own professional development.
There truly is no limit on what you can accomplish when you have Lesley Chauncey as your Clinical Director. She has earned and deserves as much as she has given over the years. It is my hope that this letter and the attached testimonials from other NICU staff will demonstrate to you how invaluable Ms. Chauncey is and so deserving of The DAISY Nurse Leader Award. She is compassionate, professional, smart, the best advocate, and above all, truly committed to patient care and always striving to create an even better NICU for some of the most vulnerable patients and their families. Especially during a grueling pandemic when having strong leadership in healthcare is so vital.