Yvonne Brookes, MSN, RN is an experienced, energetic, and visible nurse educator with a solid understanding of nursing, clinical practice, and the environment of learning. She is a strategic thinker and an enthusiastic innovator of implementing solutions to ensure the recruitment and retention of nurses, patient safety, and promoting an environment of excellence and an expert in planning and project management. She is an accomplished consultant in patient education processes.
Yvonne to many of her colleagues, Eve to her family circle, and Ms. Brookes to me, displays compassion as her core character. You can ask anyone who knows her to describe Ms. Brookes, and a free-flowing description follows. She is well respected and loved among her peers. When you mention her name, it denotes quality and being a lady (her being English). Ms. Brookes' distinct quality is her belief that, "in every person, kindness is waiting to be discovered" as taught by her father. She is known for excellence in whatever she does and that includes her special treatment to everyone including her patients. When you spend time with Ms. Brookes, she makes you feel special; it does not matter whether you are a friend, colleague, staff and, more importantly, patients. She is an exceptional nurse leader exemplifying caring behaviors to her colleagues and patients.
These criteria for the DAISY Nurse Leader award simply describes Ms. Brookes:
Role model for compassion and exemplary practice
Role models behavior perceived as extraordinary
Creates an environment that fosters care & compassion
Creates an environment where attributes of trust, compassion, mutual respect, continued professional development and ethical behavior are modeled and supported
Motivates staff with a shared vision and enthusiasm to achieve better outcomes for themselves and for their patients
Is a mentor to staff
Accessible, available and responsive to the needs of others, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving for individuals and with the context of teams
Promotes and enhances the image of nursing within the organization, the community and the profession
Many who know Ms. Brookes, can add more attributes that may describe her but overall, she deserves to be honored with this award that validates who she is in her stay here at Baptist Health South Florida. This award confirms the many individual, professional, and patient lives she has touched. Truly Ms. Brookes, you're a champion in our nursing profession.