Phyllis exemplifies a role model attributes for a leader. She is soft-spoken, thoughtful, and respectful of all she encounters. She is patient focused looking for opportunities to improve care for each patient. She has implemented several initiatives which have resulted in improved patient care such as increased patient-baby time together, improved visitation of families during childbirth process, increased breastfeeding rates, and increased epidural rates for patients in labor.
Phyllis is a resource for her peers and supports her peers through positive feedback and offering to help in any way she can. She has a group of managers and AUMs new to management and she mentors them closely to assure they are supported and successful. She is always positive and supportive, has a "can do" attitude. Although Phyllis assumed her role a couple of weeks prior to moving into the NPH, she took the challenge and stepped in like she had been doing it all her life. As her leader, I never worried about her areas I knew she had it under control.
Phyllis is the hallmark of trust, compassion, and respect. She is someone I look up to because I respect her professionally and personally. She creates a team where everyone has a voice and is able to bring her team up even in a challenging situation. One of her managers described her as a "creative problem solver". She turns employee requests into reality. She is currently working on her PhD and facilitates a journal club for her team, encouraging them to grow and sharing her knowledge with them. She is able to create a shared vision for staff while creating an inclusive environment where everyone has a voice. She doesn't just say her team is supported she means it.
Phyllis is able to juggle many different tasks and projects without getting de-railed. She has held town hall meetings with her staff, writes regular email updates, and has facilitated an L&D newsletter. She is constantly looking for venues to reach her staff. She is always available to staff, patients, peers, and leaders 24/7 but not only available but encouraging, so no one ever feels hesitant to reach out to her. She participates actively in nursing and hospital activities and programs assuring her areas attend and are engaged. As a fairly new leader she is still learning as well, but even if she doesn't know the answers she seeks them out. She is constantly looking for opportunities to grow in her leadership style, communication efforts and team building in her areas. If you work for Phyllis you know she "has your back" and will always be there for you.
Phyllis is active professionally in Women's Health and in nursing professional organizations. She is a member of AWHONN and Sigma Theta Tau. She recently had her concept analysis instrument focusing on a unique opportunity to engage patients in prenatal care accepted for publication in Nursing Forum. She has also done peer reviews of manuscripts for the journal Maternal and Child Health. She encourages her peers, managers, and staff to give back to the profession of nursing and the community through involvement in professional organizations and research for best practices in Women's Health. Several of her staff have had posters presented in various venues at Parkland and at Conferences outside of Parkland.
In the past year, I was able to watch Phyllis' leadership in a particularly difficult situation. It is rare to have a maternal death in Labor & Delivery but it happened this year. I watched her grace, compassion, and level head as she advocated and supported her staff and the family during this difficult situation. Phyllis held herself together and made sure staff had what they needed while providing support to the family which had some challenging dynamics with a newborn baby involved. She got with pastoral care and provided several opportunities for staff to "debrief" after the event which were well attended by staff, physicians, chaplains, and other disciplines. One of the nurses said she had been here many years and this was the first time she had the opportunity to talk about a bad outcome and feel supported by leadership.