Nurse leaders must own their leadership practice. "To lead people, walk beside them. As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence ... When the best leader's work is done, the people say, 'We did it ourselves!'" - Lao Tzu, philosopher
This quote by Lao Tzu describes Helen Shadel's leadership practice.
Helen is a leader who has guided her staff to find the courage of compassion while pursuing excellence and promotion of outstanding patient care. Words alone cannot describe her dedication, achievement and her ability to inspire others to the same nursing professional standards and delivery professional nurse practice.
I have observed Helen teaching a new father how to tenderly touch his one pound daughter and explain that his gentle hand laid softly is soothing while she continued to provide the family with confident reassurance and compassion. This simple act demonstrated to her staff the importance of not only providing a high level of technology and knowledge required in a neonatal intensive care unit but the value of compassion, empathy in a simple quiet touch.
Many of the patients and staff she has touched over the years continue to write to her. They describe their progress. The true expression of pleasure that she conveys as she reads each card and relates each patient or staff story embodies the honest expression of caring that Helen demonstrates each day with each person she touches.
Helen role models compassion to all that she leads daily. She has the courage to encourage and inspire those who have the privilege to work with her to continuously try to achieve the highest professional nursing standards. Her quiet calm demeanor even in times of extraordinary stress promotes positive staff engagement and has resulted in excellent patient outcomes. Helen is an amazing leader.