Creating an environment where attributes of trust, compassion, mutual respect, continued professional development and ethical behavior are modeled and supported - Yvonne’s passion for the profession of nursing is apparent to anyone who has ever had the privilege of spending time with her. Throughout her tenure at Hendricks, she has successfully created and maintained a professional environment in which nursing at all levels feels respected and valued. Yvonne has maintained this culture by being a trusted advocate and promoting the voice of nursing across multidisciplinary teams.

She takes pride in showcasing the compassionate care our nurses provide to improve patient outcomes, as anyone who has attended a Daisy presentation or poster fair can attest to. Yvonne has encouraged nursing professional development across the organization. She has mentored many of us to practice at our highest level and pushed us to be our best, leading to multiple Magnet designations for Hendricks. Yvonne’s leadership has set a solid foundation for the future of nursing at Hendricks for years to come.

Being accessible, available, and responsive to the needs of their team: Despite her busy schedule and filling multiple roles, Yvonne is a selfless leader who has always put the needs of the nursing team above her own. Yvonne has always been available to the nursing team when we need her. This includes weekends, holidays, evenings, and nights.

Problem-solving and encouraging critical thinking: Yvonne not only demonstrates critical thinking skills for nursing practice, but the entire organization. In her role as COO, she has effectively provided solutions for issues that have impacted every department in the organization. Yvonne’s leadership and critical thinking during the pandemic kept our patients and associates safe and enabled Hendricks to move forward with operations that kept us fiscally protected.

Advocating for their teams: Yvonne has advocated for Nursing Excellence for decades. She has represented Nursing at the highest levels in the organization, assuring professional nursing practice is preserved when decisions are being made. She has advocated for nurses advancing their education, developing expertise, and affirming that expertise by supporting and promoting certification.

Ensuring the needs of the teams are communicated to organization leadership and organizational priorities and directions are communicated to their teams: Yvonne shares the voice of nursing with the executive leadership group. - She guides the development of the nursing strategic plan to align with the organizational strategic plan.  She leads the nursing executive committee and the clinical manager committee meetings to communicate any upcoming initiatives. Yvonne is a compassionate leader that supports everyone's goals and encourages work/life balance.