May 2026 Honoree
Marilyn Flanders, DNP, RN, NE-BC
It is with great pride that I nominate Marilyn Flanders for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Marilyn embodies the very essence of what this award seeks to honor- an exceptional nursing leader who elevates the patient care environment not through direct bedside care, but through her steadfast leadership, support, vision, and compassion. Her influence is felt throughout the organization, impacting the quality, safety, and compassion of the care our patients receive.
Marilyn leads with honesty, transparency, and integrity. She listens to her team, seeks to understand our concerns, and offers thoughtful, balanced guidance. Despite a significant increase in her span of control, she continues to provide weekly 1:1 support to her leaders, demonstrating her belief that leadership is built on relationships, trust, and consistent presence. She is accessible and trustworthy, making herself available to us whether we need to vent, cry, or celebrate. Marilyn role models humility by admitting when she is wrong and owning her mistakes. Her authenticity creates an environment where her team feels valued, respected, and empowered to speak openly.
Marilyn maintains a global view of hospital operations while keeping patient safety and patient flow at the forefront. She routinely communicates this bigger picture to her teams, ensuring we understand not only what is needed but why it matters. She inspires her leaders to rise to challenges with confidence, and she celebrates both individual and team successes. Her calm direction during high‑pressure situations motivates us to push toward shared goals with unity and purpose.
Through her professionalism, expertise, and advocacy, Marilyn elevates the role and visibility of nursing. She champions the needs of the nursing departments she oversees, ensuring that nurses are represented in decision‑making and organizational strategy. She creates strong partnerships with leaders from other disciplines. Her vast institutional knowledge, coupled with her strong nursing practice background, makes her a trusted voice and respected leader within MMC.
Marilyn encourages her leaders to think broadly, challenge assumptions, and engage in creative problem‑solving. She guides rather than dictates, allowing us to develop autonomy and confidence in decision‑making. Her approach fosters growth, promotes leadership development, and builds succession strength within the organization. Marilyn also supports self‑care among her leaders, reminding us that sustainable leadership requires balance, reflection, and attention to our own well‑being.
Marilyn is an excellent communicator, setting clear expectations and ensuring her leaders understand emerging priorities. She actively bridges the gap between frontline leadership and organizational executives, advocating for her team while also clearly conveying system‑level goals. Her communication style promotes alignment, minimizes confusion, and enhances our collective ability to support safe and effective patient care.
In every way, Marilyn exemplifies the purpose of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. She supports her leaders with compassion, develops them with wisdom, advocates for them with determination, and leads them with integrity. She is a model of what nurse leadership should be- steady, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and profoundly human. For these reasons, and so many more, Marilyn Flanders is an outstanding and deeply deserving nominee for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award
Marilyn leads with honesty, transparency, and integrity. She listens to her team, seeks to understand our concerns, and offers thoughtful, balanced guidance. Despite a significant increase in her span of control, she continues to provide weekly 1:1 support to her leaders, demonstrating her belief that leadership is built on relationships, trust, and consistent presence. She is accessible and trustworthy, making herself available to us whether we need to vent, cry, or celebrate. Marilyn role models humility by admitting when she is wrong and owning her mistakes. Her authenticity creates an environment where her team feels valued, respected, and empowered to speak openly.
Marilyn maintains a global view of hospital operations while keeping patient safety and patient flow at the forefront. She routinely communicates this bigger picture to her teams, ensuring we understand not only what is needed but why it matters. She inspires her leaders to rise to challenges with confidence, and she celebrates both individual and team successes. Her calm direction during high‑pressure situations motivates us to push toward shared goals with unity and purpose.
Through her professionalism, expertise, and advocacy, Marilyn elevates the role and visibility of nursing. She champions the needs of the nursing departments she oversees, ensuring that nurses are represented in decision‑making and organizational strategy. She creates strong partnerships with leaders from other disciplines. Her vast institutional knowledge, coupled with her strong nursing practice background, makes her a trusted voice and respected leader within MMC.
Marilyn encourages her leaders to think broadly, challenge assumptions, and engage in creative problem‑solving. She guides rather than dictates, allowing us to develop autonomy and confidence in decision‑making. Her approach fosters growth, promotes leadership development, and builds succession strength within the organization. Marilyn also supports self‑care among her leaders, reminding us that sustainable leadership requires balance, reflection, and attention to our own well‑being.
Marilyn is an excellent communicator, setting clear expectations and ensuring her leaders understand emerging priorities. She actively bridges the gap between frontline leadership and organizational executives, advocating for her team while also clearly conveying system‑level goals. Her communication style promotes alignment, minimizes confusion, and enhances our collective ability to support safe and effective patient care.
In every way, Marilyn exemplifies the purpose of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. She supports her leaders with compassion, develops them with wisdom, advocates for them with determination, and leads them with integrity. She is a model of what nurse leadership should be- steady, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and profoundly human. For these reasons, and so many more, Marilyn Flanders is an outstanding and deeply deserving nominee for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award
Thank you, Marilyn, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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