Roy Leonard’s performance is the impetus of this request. However, he is an amazing nurse that is caring, flexible, and a real team player. Sometimes the word “team player” is tossed around recklessly and selfishly. I think if you look up the word in the dictionary of team players for James A Haley’s Nursing Team, Roy Leonard’s picture would be among the top 100 members. His comment always‐ when there is a task or a project to complete: “I will do anything that will help. Just let me know what you need me to do”.
This past weekend, Roy volunteered to work on the ARC as a staff nurse‐ anything for the team. The ARC is not his domain. So, this was an extra effort to make things work. Additionally, he is a self‐starter, motivated, caring, and flexible. He looks for ways to, enhance patient operations. For example, he in collaboration with another staff initiated the I CAN CALL A NURSE (ICCAN) ‐ a consultative nurse team which provides an option to making inappropriate Code Orange calls. The team helps nursing staff throughout the facility plan to manage behavior before there is an emergency.
In addition to quality care, Roy expects quality customer service from the staff he supervises. Since his tenure as Acting Nurse Manager, there has been a decrease in Patient Advocate Reports involving nursing to “1” in six months. He has sustained this number through education, monitoring, role modeling, and support of his staff. He makes it his mission to communicate with all of his staff frequently, in person, in their domain. If a staff person requests time to speak with him, he usually travels to meet them. This custom lets his staff know he values them and their time. Meeting with his staff regularly is no small feat; his staff is spread out over the city. He has staff at the Domiciliary‐near the stadium, at Hidden River, in the Cigna Building, on 46th street, and in building 41‐ on the main campus. His office is located at the Domiciliary, near the stadium downtown.
Roy has a keen sense of business and is very conscientious; quality care delivery is a priority. Since accepting the role of Acting Nurse Manager, he has worked diligently to keep proficiencies out of the delinquent column, competencies up to date, and staff satisfied. His subordinates and colleagues alike praise him for his work. The Section Chief for Outpatient Mental Health & Behavioral Science Programs told me two weeks ago, how pleased he is with Roy Leonard’s performance. The Domiciliary was awarded CARF accreditation, Mr. Leonard worked diligently with the team to ensure all documents were in order and up‐to‐date. This is a monumental task. Roy contributes without becoming harried. Everyone looks to Roy for answers ‐ even his Chief Nurse. He is knowledgeable, confident and willing to share‐ anything he knows. Many of the ARC policies have his name on them.
Roy Leonard is one of the stars of James A Haley’s Nursing Team.