Janice exemplifies what a GREAT boss should look like. She is organized, follows up on EVERYTHING, and is consistently fair and kind. She leads by example and compassion. She is always there for her staff both professionally and personally. That alone would be enough to award her The DAISY Nurse Leader Award but there is more!
Janice is a "Nurse's Nurse". She consistently puts the patients' needs first. Whether it be a phone call to check on a patient after a trying visit in the Clinic or merely greeting them with her warm smile. But no, that is not why I am nominating her for this award.
We had a regular patient come into the clinic for a visit. He was a friendly man whom we all knew and loved. Mr. X was not in good health. He was a very heavy man with multi-system health issues. He arrived at our office extremely short of breath and not looking well. He sat down on the exam table and clutched his chest and proceeded to fall off the table onto the floor underneath a very heavy piece of equipment. The Medical Assistant screamed for assistance. Janice jumped from her desk, ran down the hall, and into the exam room. She was the first person in the room and immediately started utilizing her well-honed nursing skills. She checked for a pulse and for respirations. Sadly, there were none. She loudly called for a Code Blue to be announced overhead. By this point, there were many other nurses in the room. She could have easily stepped out and let "others" handle it. She did not. Janice pulled this large man who was wedged under a Scope Tower out from underneath this piece of equipment and jumped on his chest to begin CPR. She did not hesitate in trying to save this man's life. While the chaos of the code ensued around her, she remained committed to her performance of chest compressions. Janice only relinquished this task when the Code Team arrived and relieved her.
She was amazing. It was a very scary event in which she did not hesitate to let her nursing skills kick in and take action. Following the Code, as the dust settled, she was concerned for her staff. She immediately arranged for emotional support and allowed space for all of us to debrief. From the traumatic event in our department, she also implemented policy change on how we can keep our patients safe. She truly led by example this day. Even in a crisis situation she once again excelled and led by example. With every step of her day and with her every action she is a true DAISY Nurse Leader.