Mollie O'Neill
November 2018
Mollie
Oneill
,
MSN, RN, CPN
Nurse Manager, Pediatric Neuroscience Unit & Pediatric CVICU
Wolfson Children's Hospital
Jacksonville
,
FL
United States
I don't know where to begin, except to say that no nurse leader has demonstrated more compassionate caring for patients, families, team members, and most especially nurses and nursing assistants, than Mollie O'Neill. She has done it day in and day out throughout her long and accomplished nursing career. I ran into her this morning. She had just come from handing over the keys for her unit- Neuroscience Unit. She's going on vacation and making some retirement plans. Her eyes were filled with tears. She had been crying and she could hardly talk. She told me her last day on her units would be Dec 3rd. She repeated, "it's just so hard" a few times. I could see the years of love and commitment in her eyes. She truly cares about her teams. She's touched the lives of so many nurses in so many indelible ways. Always coaching, mentoring, and nurturing. Always leading by example, Mollie is compassionate and kind, whether it's a helping hand, a quick smile, kind words, or a gentle correction when needed. When leadership wanted a change implemented or something piloted, Mollie and her teams over the years have been the 'go-to' people to get it done! So many things that are now routine parts of Wolfson nursing practice (like bedside report) started with Mollie O'Neill. When they needed a manager to step in and help CVICU after several management changes, it was Mollie they turned to, and Mollie got things back on track. She is a calming, loving and positive influence in all she does for patients, families, her teams, her family and her community. We are so blessed to have had her as a Wolfson nurse and leader. She will be missed when she retires, that is for sure. Those are big shoes to fill, but she leaves a beautiful legacy in lives and hearts of every nurse she touched. She is a true DAISY Nurse Leader.
***
Having Mollie for the CVICU manager has been an amazing experience because of the leadership she has brought to this team. Mollie is able to provide the team with consistent, supportive, understanding, and quality leadership that the unit has been looking for in a manager for many years. She is dedicated to all of our patients, and she is dedicated to the members of the CVICU team. What impresses me the most about Mollie is her commitment to growing each nurse and CNA professionally. Mollie is able to see others' strengths and grow those instead of focusing on the weaknesses. Although she wants everyone to improve, Mollie is able to direct this in a supportive way. Mollie is respected by all members of the CVICU team, and it is apparent that she is respected by the entire hospital. She is often sought out by her peers for leadership advice, and she seems to be a rock for the management team. I have learned so much from Mollie this year about what it means to be a manager, and she has led this team by example. Mollie truly cares about the units that she manages and the people within the walls of them, patients, nurses, doctors, CNAs, environmental services, etc. Countless times she recognizes these team players with little cards in the mail, attending celebrations for staff, and recognizing accomplishments in the staff meeting or in huddles. Mollie knows what is going on in the unit, but she also trusts her team to make good decisions. This leadership quality has also allowed the team to grow. I could go on and on about Mollie and her contributions as a leader to this organization. She is an asset to WCH, and she deserves to be recognized as a leader.
***
Mollie O'Neill has compassion, unwavering support, and strong leadership skills. In my opinion, her compassion and strong work ethic come from her personal growth- she started her career as an administrative assistant, then a nursing assistant (while raising 3 boys on her own!), worked as a floor nurse, a home health nurse, and then became a manager. She has firsthand knowledge of all aspects of patient care. Unfortunately, our unit has had our share of tragedies- 2 nurses have lost their moms, 2 lost their husbands, one lost their father, one went through breast cancer, just to name a few. Through it all, Mollie sent them cards, emails, and flowers showing her support. She always made sure they didn't worry about work- she wanted them to care for themselves and their loved ones. She worked hard to adjust the schedule to fit the needs of the floor. The nurses were so grateful they could take the time they needed to grieve without jeopardizing their position. Her compassion through all these hardships was amazing. Mollie has an unbelievable ability to see a situation from all different aspects. She doesn't take one person's word for it, she will hear all sides. Staff appreciates how fair she is when deciding the outcome. Nurses are able to grow and learn when the atmosphere is one of teaching and not one of consequences. She also encourages staff to further their growth through in-services, conferences, leadership classes and advanced degrees (again accommodating their schedule to fit their needs). Mollie is also involved in numerous volunteer opportunities. She has been a mentor for years at Tipping the Scale- a program for at-risk teens, she has organized volunteers for high schools' annual sports physicals, and been involved in many of Baptist sponsored events such as Wolfson 55, Heart Walk, and Diabetes Walk. She has participated in many community events- cooking meals at Ronald McDonald House, painting houses at HabiJax, and serving in various soup kitchens. Her tireless efforts on her units don't stop her from reaching out in the community. Mollie is an amazing nurse and leader, as well as a compassionate, caring person.
***
Mollie has been a fantastic Nurse Manager for many years. Often she goes above and beyond to increase patient satisfaction and outcomes by educating the nurses about changes that occur throughout the unit. She is always on top of her game and is a superhero when it comes to managing two units plus working with timekeeping. This is Mollie's last year working as a nurse manager prior to retirement and I feel that she is a true DAISY Nurse Leader for her dedication to patients and her team members.
***
Mollie O'Neill, manager of the Pediatric Neuroscience Unit, (interim of the Ped CVICU), demonstrates the DAISY Spirit each day by her consistent caring and thoughtful actions towards her team, colleagues, and patients/families. Mollie takes a personal interest in the wellbeing of each individual team member. There are many examples of her altruistic nature. One in particular, is when a young nurse had delivered twins prematurely. (This young nurse's mom had passed away a few months prior). The babies were admitted to Baptist South. One of the babies needed further consults and care which meant a transfer to the downtown campus. The new mom was upset-but elected to go downtown leaving her other baby with the dad at South. The following day, the baby at South started to decline. This devastated the new mom. She didn't know what to do, where to go, which baby to be with. Mollie quickly went down to be with her in the NICU, understanding the new mom did not have her own mom around for comfort and support. Knowing the young mom was not in any shape to drive, without hesitation, Mollie calmed the RN and volunteered to drive her to South (after first getting her something to eat). Mollie has been there for all of her team members in exactly the same way. Knowing Mollie's genuine care and concern for her team members, they all quickly rally when Mollie asks them to take on more responsibility, cover an extra shift, or even reflect on opportunities for personal improvement. Mollie's altruistic approach as a dynamic leader transcends throughout her team, which then transcends to their care for patients and families. Mollie naturally emulates the DAISY Spirit. It is at her core; within her natural being.
***
Mollie's nurturing and empathetic personality are what make her stand out as a leader. She is the best at fostering growth in staff members and I, along with many others, would not be where we are without her coaching and guidance. She will challenge you professionally, but always with the intent of having you mature and prosper from the experience. She allows you to learn from your mistakes rather than see it as a punishment. Her empathy has allowed multiple staff members to be flexible in their schedules when family emergencies arise. In a sense, she takes care of our mental well-being so we may continue our focus as bedside caregivers. She has been like a surrogate mother to us all and is what makes her stand out as a leader.
Thank you, Mollie, for all you have done for Wolfson patients, families and team members! We love you!!
***
Having Mollie for the CVICU manager has been an amazing experience because of the leadership she has brought to this team. Mollie is able to provide the team with consistent, supportive, understanding, and quality leadership that the unit has been looking for in a manager for many years. She is dedicated to all of our patients, and she is dedicated to the members of the CVICU team. What impresses me the most about Mollie is her commitment to growing each nurse and CNA professionally. Mollie is able to see others' strengths and grow those instead of focusing on the weaknesses. Although she wants everyone to improve, Mollie is able to direct this in a supportive way. Mollie is respected by all members of the CVICU team, and it is apparent that she is respected by the entire hospital. She is often sought out by her peers for leadership advice, and she seems to be a rock for the management team. I have learned so much from Mollie this year about what it means to be a manager, and she has led this team by example. Mollie truly cares about the units that she manages and the people within the walls of them, patients, nurses, doctors, CNAs, environmental services, etc. Countless times she recognizes these team players with little cards in the mail, attending celebrations for staff, and recognizing accomplishments in the staff meeting or in huddles. Mollie knows what is going on in the unit, but she also trusts her team to make good decisions. This leadership quality has also allowed the team to grow. I could go on and on about Mollie and her contributions as a leader to this organization. She is an asset to WCH, and she deserves to be recognized as a leader.
***
Mollie O'Neill has compassion, unwavering support, and strong leadership skills. In my opinion, her compassion and strong work ethic come from her personal growth- she started her career as an administrative assistant, then a nursing assistant (while raising 3 boys on her own!), worked as a floor nurse, a home health nurse, and then became a manager. She has firsthand knowledge of all aspects of patient care. Unfortunately, our unit has had our share of tragedies- 2 nurses have lost their moms, 2 lost their husbands, one lost their father, one went through breast cancer, just to name a few. Through it all, Mollie sent them cards, emails, and flowers showing her support. She always made sure they didn't worry about work- she wanted them to care for themselves and their loved ones. She worked hard to adjust the schedule to fit the needs of the floor. The nurses were so grateful they could take the time they needed to grieve without jeopardizing their position. Her compassion through all these hardships was amazing. Mollie has an unbelievable ability to see a situation from all different aspects. She doesn't take one person's word for it, she will hear all sides. Staff appreciates how fair she is when deciding the outcome. Nurses are able to grow and learn when the atmosphere is one of teaching and not one of consequences. She also encourages staff to further their growth through in-services, conferences, leadership classes and advanced degrees (again accommodating their schedule to fit their needs). Mollie is also involved in numerous volunteer opportunities. She has been a mentor for years at Tipping the Scale- a program for at-risk teens, she has organized volunteers for high schools' annual sports physicals, and been involved in many of Baptist sponsored events such as Wolfson 55, Heart Walk, and Diabetes Walk. She has participated in many community events- cooking meals at Ronald McDonald House, painting houses at HabiJax, and serving in various soup kitchens. Her tireless efforts on her units don't stop her from reaching out in the community. Mollie is an amazing nurse and leader, as well as a compassionate, caring person.
***
Mollie has been a fantastic Nurse Manager for many years. Often she goes above and beyond to increase patient satisfaction and outcomes by educating the nurses about changes that occur throughout the unit. She is always on top of her game and is a superhero when it comes to managing two units plus working with timekeeping. This is Mollie's last year working as a nurse manager prior to retirement and I feel that she is a true DAISY Nurse Leader for her dedication to patients and her team members.
***
Mollie O'Neill, manager of the Pediatric Neuroscience Unit, (interim of the Ped CVICU), demonstrates the DAISY Spirit each day by her consistent caring and thoughtful actions towards her team, colleagues, and patients/families. Mollie takes a personal interest in the wellbeing of each individual team member. There are many examples of her altruistic nature. One in particular, is when a young nurse had delivered twins prematurely. (This young nurse's mom had passed away a few months prior). The babies were admitted to Baptist South. One of the babies needed further consults and care which meant a transfer to the downtown campus. The new mom was upset-but elected to go downtown leaving her other baby with the dad at South. The following day, the baby at South started to decline. This devastated the new mom. She didn't know what to do, where to go, which baby to be with. Mollie quickly went down to be with her in the NICU, understanding the new mom did not have her own mom around for comfort and support. Knowing the young mom was not in any shape to drive, without hesitation, Mollie calmed the RN and volunteered to drive her to South (after first getting her something to eat). Mollie has been there for all of her team members in exactly the same way. Knowing Mollie's genuine care and concern for her team members, they all quickly rally when Mollie asks them to take on more responsibility, cover an extra shift, or even reflect on opportunities for personal improvement. Mollie's altruistic approach as a dynamic leader transcends throughout her team, which then transcends to their care for patients and families. Mollie naturally emulates the DAISY Spirit. It is at her core; within her natural being.
***
Mollie's nurturing and empathetic personality are what make her stand out as a leader. She is the best at fostering growth in staff members and I, along with many others, would not be where we are without her coaching and guidance. She will challenge you professionally, but always with the intent of having you mature and prosper from the experience. She allows you to learn from your mistakes rather than see it as a punishment. Her empathy has allowed multiple staff members to be flexible in their schedules when family emergencies arise. In a sense, she takes care of our mental well-being so we may continue our focus as bedside caregivers. She has been like a surrogate mother to us all and is what makes her stand out as a leader.
Thank you, Mollie, for all you have done for Wolfson patients, families and team members! We love you!!