November 2020
Jean
Kirk
,
DNP, MSN, RN-BC
IP
Mercy Hospital and Medical Center
Chicago
,
IL
United States
There is not one department that has not been impacted by Jean’s guidance and support.
Jean Kirk, RN, DNP, Director of Infection Prevention, has always been a nurse leader and been willing to step in when leadership has been needed. Jean has spent her entire nursing career at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center and her leadership was evident early on in her practice. She started as a staff nurse on the 9th floor, transferred to the emergency department, and was tapped to become the manager of the 9th floor. Eventually Jean also assumed the role of manager of the emergency department. To this day, because of her managerial and leadership skill, Jean has been asked and has willingly assumed, interim Director Responsibilities for both the 9th floor and nursing education. Jean serves and represents Mercy on Trinity’s Nurse Clinical Leadership Group offering advice and suggestions for improvements across the enterprise.
It was shortly after September 2001 that Jean became interested in, and advanced her career in, infection prevention. Jean’s doctoral dissertation focused on the prevention of urinary tract infections which led to her successful establishment of the “Nurse Driven Foley Removal Protocol”. This intervention has significantly helped to decrease CAUTI at Mercy Hospital.
Most employees meet Jean during new employee orientation and remember her for both the content of her infection prevention presentation but also for her knowledge, experience, and sense of humor. She has a welcoming attitude and sets the expectation for compliance with the important issue of infection prevention during hospitalization. Jean has also mentored many students throughout the years who have gone on to do great things. This includes mentoring our own Infection Prevention Specialist.
Most recently, Jean has spearheaded all of the efforts necessary to protect our patients and employees during the Covid-19 pandemic. This has been a daunting task that has required the determination, knowledge, skill, and leadership of Jean. She has worked ceaselessly to ensure we have the PPE we need the most current information and provide the best evidence to support the care for our patients and each other. There is not one department that has not been impacted by Jean’s guidance and support.
Considering all of Jean’s professional accomplishments and contributions, Jean is deserving of this DAISY Nurse Leadership Award.
It was shortly after September 2001 that Jean became interested in, and advanced her career in, infection prevention. Jean’s doctoral dissertation focused on the prevention of urinary tract infections which led to her successful establishment of the “Nurse Driven Foley Removal Protocol”. This intervention has significantly helped to decrease CAUTI at Mercy Hospital.
Most employees meet Jean during new employee orientation and remember her for both the content of her infection prevention presentation but also for her knowledge, experience, and sense of humor. She has a welcoming attitude and sets the expectation for compliance with the important issue of infection prevention during hospitalization. Jean has also mentored many students throughout the years who have gone on to do great things. This includes mentoring our own Infection Prevention Specialist.
Most recently, Jean has spearheaded all of the efforts necessary to protect our patients and employees during the Covid-19 pandemic. This has been a daunting task that has required the determination, knowledge, skill, and leadership of Jean. She has worked ceaselessly to ensure we have the PPE we need the most current information and provide the best evidence to support the care for our patients and each other. There is not one department that has not been impacted by Jean’s guidance and support.
Considering all of Jean’s professional accomplishments and contributions, Jean is deserving of this DAISY Nurse Leadership Award.