Susan B. Williamson
May 2023
Susan B.
Williamson
,
MSN, RN, OCN
Witt 6
BayCare Morton Plant Hospital
Clearwater
,
FL
United States
She continually inspires me and all those around her to always do the right thing. She leads by example, is dedicated to her profession, and genuinely cares for her team and patients.
Sue is more than deserving of the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. She has been a nurse for over 40 years and has worked in many different roles. When I first met Sue, she was the unit-based educator of our oncology unit. I immediately knew she had a lot of knowledge and experience as an oncology nurse. She taught me more than I can ever recollect and that has made me the nurse I am today. She has ALWAYS taken time to teach those around her how to properly do things so that we can provide extraordinary patient care to some of the most vulnerable patients. Her patient spirit and dedication to education has forever impacted everyone she has encountered.
Over the years, I have realized how special Sue is. She is an amazing nurse leader who serves her team tirelessly. On any given day she can be found on the unit, in patient rooms, elbow to elbow with us. Thank you Sue for everything, and I wish you a happy retirement.
***
I have had the privilege of working with Sue for nearly 18 years, during which time she has been an inspirational leader to the entire team. Sue initially started as a unit educator and a relief charge nurse. Her intelligence and strict demeanor were apparent immediately. I was initially intimidated by her, but I quickly realized that her serious nature was just one aspect of her personality, soon her humor was discovered and that was my favorite part about her.
She always had an answer to all of my questions and was always patient while guiding me as a foreign nurse. She helped me understand nursing in the United States. When she became the Nurse Manager, I did not think twice about applying to be her Assistant Nurse Manager because it would ensure I got to work beside her. She is such a teacher at heart and is always willing to share her knowledge with everyone. She mentored me by taking me to manager meetings, retreats, and supporting my leadership development through various courses. She even pushed me to become Oncology Certified.
Sue treats everyone with respect. She is fair, calm, and an extraordinary communicator. If I become half the leader she is, I will consider myself blessed. She continually inspires me and all those around her to always do the right thing. She leads by example, is dedicated to her profession, and genuinely cares for her team and patients. Over the years Sue has become more than a colleague and mentor, she has become a lifelong friend. I am forever grateful that I got to be part of her journey and I wish her nothing but health and happiness in her retirement.
***
Every person has a “go-to” person. Sue is mine and she has been for a very long time. Whether it be that we are brainstorming, collaborating or I just need to vent she is always there with a smile and a few jokes. She is going to be leaving some big shoes to fill, I hope that is part of the job requirement, “must be able to listen to T vent.” I remember when I became the Nurse Manager of Barnard 6, I would occasionally stop by just to see how she was doing or say hi. What I really wanted to do was say “How do you do this every day?” Over time our conversations became longer, and we became friends. She would remind me we were all in this together. One of her best qualities is her ability to stay calm in chaos. These past few years have shown us what true chaos is in healthcare. She has gone through a lot since COVID-19 and regardless of her struggles she stayed positive and continued to impact us all in a way that made us better. If anyone is deserving of the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award it is Sue. I cannot think of another leader who has dedicated themselves so much to her team and patients. I am so happy that she now gets to enjoy her retirement and I will miss her immensely.
***
The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize those nurses who have devoted their life’s work to the compassionate care of others, providing a way to recognize and honor nurses who leave a lasting legacy and who have shaped the history of an organization. During Sue’s 38 years of service at Morton Plant Hospital, she has certainly accomplished this. Sue has played an instrumental role in advancing the nursing profession by serving as a mentor to countless other nurses and nursing leaders throughout her career. Her commitment to shared decision-making, collaborative problem-solving, and interprofessional teamwork has ensured that nurses have a voice in shaping their practice.
Sue exemplifies the characteristics of a “Nurse’s Nurse.” She is a natural leader who advocates daily for the patient, their families, and her nursing team. Sue has role modeled the behavior and knowledge necessary to positively influence the nursing profession. She is well respected for her caring spirit, work ethic, and professionalism. Sue empowers her team to be great, encourages them when they struggle, and cares about each one of them as individuals. Her genuine open-door policy supports her team to talk with her about anything, welcoming feedback and innovative ideas boosting team member engagement, morale, and trust. Without hesitation and regardless of the task at hand, you will often find Sue on the unit helping the team to get the job done.
Sue’s devoted leadership has made an everlasting impact on the Oncology specialty. She founded and chaired the unit-based chemotherapy council, developed the didactic and practicum curriculum for chemotherapy credentialling of the oncology unit staff, presented chemotherapy-related presentations at Quality Sharing Days, and chaired the system-wide inpatient oncology collaborative. Most recently, Sue helped lead the creation of the Oncology Internship at BayCare. She is an Oncology Certified Nurse and an active member of the National Oncology Nursing Society and the Pinellas County Oncology Nursing Society.
Sue’s contributions and achievements over the years are awe-inspiring. She has participated in several hospital and system-wide projects and initiatives for the advancement of the nursing profession. Sue completed her Master of Science in nursing in 2010. She received the Nursing Excellence Award in 2004 and 2010. Under Sue’s leadership in 2017, her Witt 6 nursing team received the DAISY Team Award. In 2020, Sue was individually recognized by her team and peers and was awarded the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Her awards and achievements are only a fraction compared to the impact she has made on so many lives. One team member stated, “Sue is not our boss, she is our leader.” Her values and passion for the nursing profession have been instilled in the countless team members she mentored and led over her prestigious career.
Her contributions have made a lasting impact on our hospital, organization, and the nursing profession. She has forever improved patient care, nursing practice, and our culture here at Morton Plant Hospital and beyond. We are extremely proud to honor Susan Williamson, RN, Nurse Manager, with the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. We wish her all the best in this next chapter of her life.
Note: This is Sue's 2nd DAISY Award!
Over the years, I have realized how special Sue is. She is an amazing nurse leader who serves her team tirelessly. On any given day she can be found on the unit, in patient rooms, elbow to elbow with us. Thank you Sue for everything, and I wish you a happy retirement.
***
I have had the privilege of working with Sue for nearly 18 years, during which time she has been an inspirational leader to the entire team. Sue initially started as a unit educator and a relief charge nurse. Her intelligence and strict demeanor were apparent immediately. I was initially intimidated by her, but I quickly realized that her serious nature was just one aspect of her personality, soon her humor was discovered and that was my favorite part about her.
She always had an answer to all of my questions and was always patient while guiding me as a foreign nurse. She helped me understand nursing in the United States. When she became the Nurse Manager, I did not think twice about applying to be her Assistant Nurse Manager because it would ensure I got to work beside her. She is such a teacher at heart and is always willing to share her knowledge with everyone. She mentored me by taking me to manager meetings, retreats, and supporting my leadership development through various courses. She even pushed me to become Oncology Certified.
Sue treats everyone with respect. She is fair, calm, and an extraordinary communicator. If I become half the leader she is, I will consider myself blessed. She continually inspires me and all those around her to always do the right thing. She leads by example, is dedicated to her profession, and genuinely cares for her team and patients. Over the years Sue has become more than a colleague and mentor, she has become a lifelong friend. I am forever grateful that I got to be part of her journey and I wish her nothing but health and happiness in her retirement.
***
Every person has a “go-to” person. Sue is mine and she has been for a very long time. Whether it be that we are brainstorming, collaborating or I just need to vent she is always there with a smile and a few jokes. She is going to be leaving some big shoes to fill, I hope that is part of the job requirement, “must be able to listen to T vent.” I remember when I became the Nurse Manager of Barnard 6, I would occasionally stop by just to see how she was doing or say hi. What I really wanted to do was say “How do you do this every day?” Over time our conversations became longer, and we became friends. She would remind me we were all in this together. One of her best qualities is her ability to stay calm in chaos. These past few years have shown us what true chaos is in healthcare. She has gone through a lot since COVID-19 and regardless of her struggles she stayed positive and continued to impact us all in a way that made us better. If anyone is deserving of the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award it is Sue. I cannot think of another leader who has dedicated themselves so much to her team and patients. I am so happy that she now gets to enjoy her retirement and I will miss her immensely.
***
The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize those nurses who have devoted their life’s work to the compassionate care of others, providing a way to recognize and honor nurses who leave a lasting legacy and who have shaped the history of an organization. During Sue’s 38 years of service at Morton Plant Hospital, she has certainly accomplished this. Sue has played an instrumental role in advancing the nursing profession by serving as a mentor to countless other nurses and nursing leaders throughout her career. Her commitment to shared decision-making, collaborative problem-solving, and interprofessional teamwork has ensured that nurses have a voice in shaping their practice.
Sue exemplifies the characteristics of a “Nurse’s Nurse.” She is a natural leader who advocates daily for the patient, their families, and her nursing team. Sue has role modeled the behavior and knowledge necessary to positively influence the nursing profession. She is well respected for her caring spirit, work ethic, and professionalism. Sue empowers her team to be great, encourages them when they struggle, and cares about each one of them as individuals. Her genuine open-door policy supports her team to talk with her about anything, welcoming feedback and innovative ideas boosting team member engagement, morale, and trust. Without hesitation and regardless of the task at hand, you will often find Sue on the unit helping the team to get the job done.
Sue’s devoted leadership has made an everlasting impact on the Oncology specialty. She founded and chaired the unit-based chemotherapy council, developed the didactic and practicum curriculum for chemotherapy credentialling of the oncology unit staff, presented chemotherapy-related presentations at Quality Sharing Days, and chaired the system-wide inpatient oncology collaborative. Most recently, Sue helped lead the creation of the Oncology Internship at BayCare. She is an Oncology Certified Nurse and an active member of the National Oncology Nursing Society and the Pinellas County Oncology Nursing Society.
Sue’s contributions and achievements over the years are awe-inspiring. She has participated in several hospital and system-wide projects and initiatives for the advancement of the nursing profession. Sue completed her Master of Science in nursing in 2010. She received the Nursing Excellence Award in 2004 and 2010. Under Sue’s leadership in 2017, her Witt 6 nursing team received the DAISY Team Award. In 2020, Sue was individually recognized by her team and peers and was awarded the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Her awards and achievements are only a fraction compared to the impact she has made on so many lives. One team member stated, “Sue is not our boss, she is our leader.” Her values and passion for the nursing profession have been instilled in the countless team members she mentored and led over her prestigious career.
Her contributions have made a lasting impact on our hospital, organization, and the nursing profession. She has forever improved patient care, nursing practice, and our culture here at Morton Plant Hospital and beyond. We are extremely proud to honor Susan Williamson, RN, Nurse Manager, with the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. We wish her all the best in this next chapter of her life.
Note: This is Sue's 2nd DAISY Award!