In a world where the demands of life can often feel overwhelming, there are individuals who stand out as beacons of hope and resilience. Linda is one of those remarkable people. A shining star in the Atrium family for over three decades. From her humble beginnings in 1987 to her impactful role as the Nurse Manager of the 8 Tower Mother Baby Unit since 2007, Linda's journey is a testament to dedication, compassion, and the profound effect one person can have on the lives of many.
I had the honor to meet Linda and work alongside her for the past six years. During that time, the caring and compassion that she demonstrates on a daily basis is nothing less than astonishing. No matter who you are, when you walk onto the 8 Tower Mother Baby Unit, you can feel Linda’s presence. From her smiling face at the desk, to her fun antics with the nursing team, to her way of providing comfort and compassion to the patients on the entire unit. I have witnessed her laugh as well as cry along with her team who may be experiencing their own personal or professional difficulties. Her nurturing and supportive nature extends to every patient she touches, including those experiencing their own challenges in adapting to new motherhood or worrying for their babies in the Intensive Care unit. These moms often feel overwhelming fear and anxiety and Linda has a way to put them at ease. I have seen her connect with her team and patients on a personal and emotional level, it is unlike anything I have ever seen before. She makes them feel heard, validated, comforted and reassured like no one else can. Linda’s mere presence fosters an inclusive and positive culture. I have witnessed her go on the unit and support her teams during challenging days. The team and patients appreciate her compassion and support. This is not just a job to Linda; this is her passion. She is a role model for all future leaders. 

Here are a few observed examples: 
Linda glides through the hallways of 8 Tower, her warm smile lighting up the unit. During leader rounding, she pauses at each bedside, her presence a soothing calm for anxious families. For example, when I was on her unit recently, she noticed a new mother, weary yet glowing with joy. Linda immediately said, "Let me go spend some time with her."

“Tell me about your little one,” Linda encouraged, pulling up a chair and showing genuine interest. As the mother shared stories of sleepless nights, Linda listened intently, offering words of encouragement. This is just how Linda is, she cares about how everyone feels when they are on her unit. With every connection, she painted a brighter picture of hope, ensuring every patient felt not just cared for, but truly welcomed on her unit.

I specifically recall one day when Linda was providing support to a mother who had received devastating news about her newborn. Linda did not hesitate to provide support and comfort to this mother as if she were her own family member. The level of compassion, caring, and support for this mother and family and nursing team that Linda demonstrated brought not only me but the entire department to tears, and all of us wondered what else we could do to provide additional support for this family. Linda would follow up and visit them often while they were with us and I am confident that her prayers and support did not stop even after the patient was discharged. Linda’s leadership and compassion during times like this have made us all want to be better. 

I have also witnessed on numerous occasions Linda has brought in items for patients who are in need. From clothes to baby items that Linda has purchased herself, Linda ensures that no one leaves her unit in need. A few years ago, we had a special needs mother with us for several weeks, this patient was very difficult to communicate with due to her disability, yet Linda rounded on her daily, developed her own way to communicate with her and provide support. Linda brought her items that she needed for herself and her baby so that she had items to go home with. On the day of discharge, this patient made a heart sign with both of her hands to Linda and our team, expressing her appreciation in a way that was special to her. 

I have witnessed similar support from Linda to her teammates, from collecting items in the form of donations for a family in need to taking time away to support her teammates while they were experiencing their own loss. Linda leads a very large team of more than 150 teammates, yet she knows them all, both personally and professionally. She never misses a celebration or a teammate in need. With the large number of teammates, I have no idea how she is able to develop a personal connection with each of them, yet she does!

Some professional accomplishments during her tenure just to name a few; Linda has led her team to successful certification for the National Baby-Friendly Designation, transition to the Mother-Baby staffing model, has worked to improve multiple quality metrics and has improved the departmental patient experience to meet and exceed goals for the past several years, the scores of Linda’s department drives patient engagement scores up for the entire facility. Although Linda is a fierce advocate for her patients and team and often celebrates her team. I am confident that she will hate that we nominated her for this award, as she never accepts recognition for herself. These are just a few examples of what Linda has been doing for the past 27 years, we could write a book with stories about Linda’s caring and compassion that goes above and beyond what anyone else does.

Linda also supports and encourages her team to grow professionally. She has a knack for identifying and fostering talents within her team. She has teammates who have shown leadership potential and has encouraged them to obtain certifications, get involved in the clinical ladder, and enroll in continuing higher levels of education. She has encouraged countless teammates and leaders to advance their own practice. She has grown teammates into clinical supervisors, educators and charge nurses. She also encourages her technical teammates to consider going back to school and several of her Health Care Technicians have become nurses due to Linda’s encouragement and support. Linda is also always the first to celebrate her team's accomplishments along with them. 

Linda also considers anyone who supports her department a part of her team. She knows the names of all environmental service and dietary teammates supporting her area. I have witnessed her celebrate and recognize the retirement of one of her long service environmental service teammates. She along with her team celebrated this remarkable milestone. It was apparent that she was truly a part of the Mother Baby team. 

Linda’s support does not stop with her own patients and team. Linda is seen as a transformational leader across the Central Area. She is often selected to represent nursing on facility and regional initiatives and committees. She has been recognized as a leader who exemplifies nurse leader rounding and serves as a role model to other leaders. Linda draws from her years of experience and supports and mentors new leaders. She has supported leaders across the division and across the facility. Her calm expertise sets her apart as someone who you can trust and ask any questions as a new leader. Her calm supportive approach fosters a safe environment for learning and asking questions for both leaders and teammates. She is often sought out to participate and represent our division. She is well known and respected by senior leaders in the Central Area and Corporate leaders. Recently, while rounding with a senior nurse leader, we received this feedback: "I continue to be impressed with how easily you connect with the patients and how thorough you are with addressing their plan of care and what they can expect throughout their stay.  Great job.  Best wishes on your retirement!  You leave some big shoes to fill."


Some things that her team says about her: 
“I have been with Linda since she accepted a Nurse Manager position. I can remember the first time sitting in the office with her as a new manager- and she will tell you to this day- she did not know how to really use a computer or send an email. We joke about this often. Seeing her grow has shown me that a good leader is not identified by technology skills- it is about the interpersonal and collaboration skills that you use in your daily work. Linda can read anyone and know when they are having a good or difficult day. She is always kind and respectful in her approach to help. She is the definition of a true leader.”

“Linda has grown into one of the best leaders anyone could ask for. Her compassion is evident daily to all that she encounters. She always listens to both staff and patients and shares her own personal stories every day. She lights up the day with her interactions and communication. She will help anyone that comes to her for advice or help. She can become a friend to everyone and anyone. She displays true empathy and concern for her entire department. There have been numerous times where she has gone out of her way to buy a card, a gift, take someone to lunch, or make a personal call during any special or sad occasion on the unit to show her support. The staff know who they can go to if they need help. Linda loves to celebrate both big and small wins with her team.” 

“She rounds daily on our patients, and she can go into a patient room for 5 minutes and know more about a patient than a nurse can in 12 hours. She is the only person I know who can round on 36 patients and later see a patient at the desk and call them by name- and remember their baby’s name. She has a gift of making everyone feel welcome and special. She is determined to have every patient experience an excellent stay here in the hospital. She goes out of her way to clean a room, make a bed, take out the trash, and bring any supplies patients need. She will even discharge a patient and go to a room and strip a bed and get it ready for EVS to clean to help expedite the process for the next patient to be welcomed to our unit. Arguably, no manager works harder.”

“As she gets ready to retire this year, seeing her pack her items one by one, we as a team will deeply miss our leader. There has never been anyone to make us smile and laugh the way she does. Doing wall Pilates, yoga, name that tune, watching her do a pop-up dance at the nurse’s station to ease the stress and daily grind, are just a few memories we will cherish and never forget. She is an inspiration to all of us. There is not a day that we are not thinking of her or supporting her as well. Having our coffee cart come every day and saving the cheese Danishes for the boss, will also be hard to replace. No one likes a cheese Danish like her.” 

“Linda advocates fiercely for her nurses and pushes them to grow professionally. She identifies potential in her teammates and empowers them to own their practice, a true posterchild of a professional governance leader. She has been the biggest cheerleader for CNCP participation, with 54 of her teammates successfully being credentialed on the program!  She pushes her team to pursue advanced degrees and has nine nurses who are RN IVs, including one with DNP who has opted to stay at the bedside. Several of her nurses are currently in school for advanced degrees. She consistently encourages her nurses to obtain certifications specific to the maternal newborn population. She personally pushed me into the clinical advancement program and to continue my education! She supported me through new opportunities and even helped me overcome imposter syndrome as I took on new things. She saw potential in me that I didn’t realize was there! Through her dynamic leadership and influential personality, she creates an inviting, safe culture for nurses to grow and practice!”
           
To replace her is simply unimaginable. Thank you for recognizing Linda Thornton with the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award.