Shirley S Paulson
September 2023
Shirley S
Paulson
,
DNP, MPA, RN, NEA-BC
Patient Care Services
Kaiser Regional Patient Care Service
Oakland
,
CA
United States
It is an honor to be in the presence of a leader with her depth and breadth of knowledge. But the unique part is how she uses that knowledge in her decision-making. She is guided by such thoughtfulness for how it will impact our patients, physicians, nurses, her Team, and our organization now and in the future.
How do I sum up the significant impact Shirley has had on the Adult Service Line and Kaiser Permanente in general? A few words come to my mind – game changer, trailblazer, difference maker. If you were to ask Shirley to sum up her numerous accomplishments, she would say, “I was just doing my job.” Her unwavering commitment to high-quality care is evident in the positive feedback I consistently receive from her team, the local medical center leadership, and her numerous collaborative partners across KFH & TPMG. She is a tireless leader who holds herself and her team to a high level of excellence that borders on perfection but translates into a level of service that is very difficult to replicate.
A few of her accomplishments include:
She and her team are among the top leaders in Regional PCS for the number of publications, abstracts, and presentations given to date. She is a lifelong learner and a strong advocate for advancing science and clinical discovery. She and her team had (7) abstracts accepted to the 2023 National Nursing Conference as poster or podium presentations. In May 2023, she was a podium presenter at the 2023 FULD National Institute for EBP Summit.
She is a sought-after expert and serves on many regional and national committees that span the spectrum between quality, nursing practice, and technology.
She leads a number of region-wide, interprofessional initiatives designed to either increase member access to critical services or enhance the quality of services provided to include and these are just a few:
Internalization of Dialysis Services
Expansion of inpatient chemo services
Tele-critical Care
Telemetry Optimization
CHF
Her exceptional professionalism, kindness, dogged determination, and empathy have created a nurturing environment where her team can excel and thrive.
On behalf of our Adult PCS Group, I would like to nominate Shirley Paulson for The DAISY Nurse Leader Award. It is hard to describe Shirley, as she is a leader, mentor, director, trailblazer, and cheerleader rolled into one. It is an honor to be in the presence of a leader with her depth and breadth of knowledge. But the unique part is how she uses that knowledge in her decision-making. She is guided by such thoughtfulness for how it will impact our patients, physicians, nurses, her Team, and our organization now and in the future. She unselfishly sacrifices her time and energy to make so many initiatives happen, and she does all this with such grace and humility. Everyone on our Team has learned so much because of her. Whether to never miss a period in a presentation or triple spell check, Shirley has taught us even the smallest details matter. This attention to detail, dare I say perfection, inspires us to go above and beyond. I do not think people can help but be inspired if they have an opportunity to work with Shirley. The subtle touches Shirley blends into her work inspire all those around her to strive toward excellence. While some leaders may say they encourage their teams, she does not say it. She does it. Shirley stands back, always the first to give credit to her team; no one is prouder than she when lifting up her team and showing them off. The endless cheerleader, she encourages, advises, and molds each person under her direction to bring out the best in them. We will always be thankful to you for all the hard work and effort you have put in to make us who we are. In the hard times, Shirley has always been there to ensure we kept our heads up and stayed motivated. She ushers us to take every opportunity to learn and grow; and uses herself as the net to catch us when we’re feeling a little unsure. As our fierce protector, Shirley has a motherly way of ensuring our reputation is distinguished and our morale sustained. Outside of our team, Shirley is famous for her reliability and credibility – everyone knows they can count on her. She takes accountability very seriously and will never hesitate to roll up her sleeves to get the work done – not just done but very well done! Her standard is superior, and her caliber is rare!
We can go on and on about Shirley without feeling exhausted, but realistically, we need to respect the limits of this write-up. So, all that may sound great, but all those accomplishments and accolades are nothing compared to what you cannot see and what her Team feels. With all that happens and no matter how busy she may be, our Team knows Shirley will always make time for each of us as a person. Like a “momma bear,” she leads us, protects us, and supports us professionally and personally. This is why Shirley will always have such a special place in so many hearts.
They say the true measure of a leader is what they do when no one is around and when no one is watching. Shirley is one of the hardest-working people I've ever known - and that's saying something at Region! Her depth of experience and the wisdom she's gained over her years of service give her a level of credibility that instills confidence in her decisions. I appreciate and respect how she always stands for the action that is the right thing for the patient AND what is practical for the nurse or nurse leader to achieve. When those two appear to be at odds with each other, she is clear and direct in her insistence that a more equitable and workable solution be identified. In this, I see the care, love, and respect she holds for her profession and for her Team.
A few of her accomplishments include:
She and her team are among the top leaders in Regional PCS for the number of publications, abstracts, and presentations given to date. She is a lifelong learner and a strong advocate for advancing science and clinical discovery. She and her team had (7) abstracts accepted to the 2023 National Nursing Conference as poster or podium presentations. In May 2023, she was a podium presenter at the 2023 FULD National Institute for EBP Summit.
She is a sought-after expert and serves on many regional and national committees that span the spectrum between quality, nursing practice, and technology.
She leads a number of region-wide, interprofessional initiatives designed to either increase member access to critical services or enhance the quality of services provided to include and these are just a few:
Internalization of Dialysis Services
Expansion of inpatient chemo services
Tele-critical Care
Telemetry Optimization
CHF
Her exceptional professionalism, kindness, dogged determination, and empathy have created a nurturing environment where her team can excel and thrive.
On behalf of our Adult PCS Group, I would like to nominate Shirley Paulson for The DAISY Nurse Leader Award. It is hard to describe Shirley, as she is a leader, mentor, director, trailblazer, and cheerleader rolled into one. It is an honor to be in the presence of a leader with her depth and breadth of knowledge. But the unique part is how she uses that knowledge in her decision-making. She is guided by such thoughtfulness for how it will impact our patients, physicians, nurses, her Team, and our organization now and in the future. She unselfishly sacrifices her time and energy to make so many initiatives happen, and she does all this with such grace and humility. Everyone on our Team has learned so much because of her. Whether to never miss a period in a presentation or triple spell check, Shirley has taught us even the smallest details matter. This attention to detail, dare I say perfection, inspires us to go above and beyond. I do not think people can help but be inspired if they have an opportunity to work with Shirley. The subtle touches Shirley blends into her work inspire all those around her to strive toward excellence. While some leaders may say they encourage their teams, she does not say it. She does it. Shirley stands back, always the first to give credit to her team; no one is prouder than she when lifting up her team and showing them off. The endless cheerleader, she encourages, advises, and molds each person under her direction to bring out the best in them. We will always be thankful to you for all the hard work and effort you have put in to make us who we are. In the hard times, Shirley has always been there to ensure we kept our heads up and stayed motivated. She ushers us to take every opportunity to learn and grow; and uses herself as the net to catch us when we’re feeling a little unsure. As our fierce protector, Shirley has a motherly way of ensuring our reputation is distinguished and our morale sustained. Outside of our team, Shirley is famous for her reliability and credibility – everyone knows they can count on her. She takes accountability very seriously and will never hesitate to roll up her sleeves to get the work done – not just done but very well done! Her standard is superior, and her caliber is rare!
We can go on and on about Shirley without feeling exhausted, but realistically, we need to respect the limits of this write-up. So, all that may sound great, but all those accomplishments and accolades are nothing compared to what you cannot see and what her Team feels. With all that happens and no matter how busy she may be, our Team knows Shirley will always make time for each of us as a person. Like a “momma bear,” she leads us, protects us, and supports us professionally and personally. This is why Shirley will always have such a special place in so many hearts.
They say the true measure of a leader is what they do when no one is around and when no one is watching. Shirley is one of the hardest-working people I've ever known - and that's saying something at Region! Her depth of experience and the wisdom she's gained over her years of service give her a level of credibility that instills confidence in her decisions. I appreciate and respect how she always stands for the action that is the right thing for the patient AND what is practical for the nurse or nurse leader to achieve. When those two appear to be at odds with each other, she is clear and direct in her insistence that a more equitable and workable solution be identified. In this, I see the care, love, and respect she holds for her profession and for her Team.