I am honored to nominate Missy for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. With over 26 years of dedicated service as a nurse manager, she exemplifies the highest standards of leadership in our units, which consistently maintain full capacity. She manages a team of over 100 teammates, demonstrating her exceptional ability to lead and inspire a large workforce.

Her commitment to the specialty of rehabilitation nursing is truly remarkable. Despite facing significant personal
challenges last year, she remained a pillar of support for her team and patients. During a critical period leading up to the opening of our new building, she unexpectedly needed medical leave but prioritized her team’s needs above her own. She delayed necessary medical care, focusing solely on ensuring a smooth transition for her staff and patients. When she did have to take leave, her concern for her team was palpable. She requested that the focus remain on the upcoming changes rather than on her health, demonstrating her selflessness and dedication. Her team, who deeply admire and care for her, rallied together to meet her expectations, showcasing the strong bond she has cultivated over the years. Upon her return, she faced the daunting task of integrating into a new unit with new teammates while also addressing the patient experience challenges that had arisen prior to her leave. Undeterred, she organized team-building events to foster connection and trust among her staff. Her strategic vision and commitment to patient care resulted in significant improvements, with both units now exceeding their patient experience targets.

In addition to her exceptional leadership during transitions, she is phenomenal in handling patient experience issues. Recently, a family member was extremely upset and demanded to speak with administration during the evening hours. As the on-call nurse manager, she stepped in to address the situation personally. Her compassionate service recovery efforts not only calmed the daughter but also left a lasting impression, as she expressed her gratitude the following day.

Furthermore, the nominee has been instrumental in establishing our very first nursing mentoring program. Under her guidance, we’ve created three pathways and currently have 13 mentees partnered with 13 mentors, fostering professional growth within our team. She also oversees our DAISY and Cardinal programs along with our teammate engagement committee, ensuring we have fun-filled monthly activities planned for nursing teammates. Her dedication to health and wellness is inspiring; she actively encourages her teammates to complete their preventive health checks. Thanks to her advocacy, several staff members detected positive mammograms early, with many initially having no plans to pursue screening.

She embodies resilience and serves as an inspiration to us all. She is actively involved in leader rounding and participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, building excellent rapport with physicians and therapy partners. Her "can-do" attitude is infectious, motivating others to embrace the same mindset and approach challenges with confidence. The nominee exemplifies the qualities of a true leader: compassion, resilience, and an unwavering dedication to her team and patients. I wholeheartedly believe she deserves recognition for her extraordinary contributions, and I am proud to nominate her for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award.