It is my pleasure to nominate Stacey Wattier for the 2021 DAISY Nurse Leader Award. I have worked for Stacey since she became the Nurse Manager of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) in 2017. Shortly after she became the Nurse Manager of CICU, the unit moved from an eight-bed to a nineteen-bed unit. Stacey played an instrumental role in ensuring this was a seamless transition. Her organization, support, and positive attitude made the move a much easier and more successful process. Evidence of this success includes the CICU earning the Beacon Silver Award only a few years after doubling the size of the unit. It is through Stacey’s dedication to excellence that she promotes and enhances the image of nursing within TUKHS and, in turn, the community. These attributes are discussed in detail in the following paragraphs.

Stacey exemplifies trust, compassion, and mutual respect with how available she makes herself to staff. She always encourages staff to call day or night and she is always there to offer support. During a certain middle-of-the-night situation, our charge nurse contacted Stacey and she came in person to help us solve the issue. Not only did her presence make me feel more supported, but she also did one-on-one follow-up with staff who were involved so as a team we were more prepared if this happened again in the future.

Another example of how Stacey consistently demonstrates trust, compassion, and mutual respect is how well she supported staff on CICU during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of the pandemic, there was so much anxiety related to COVID-19 due to fear of the unknown and trying to keep up with changing policies as new information was discovered about the virus. To support the resiliency of the staff, Stacey held weekly team check-ins where we discussed current state, update the team with relevant policies and offer time for the team to talk through their anxieties associated with COVID-19. It was very impactful and a time for the team to come together (virtually) when the CICU was briefly closed.

Stacey always supports staff professionally and encourages professional development. She is incredibly flexible and always works with staff to adjust their schedule so they can achieve their professional goals. For example, she meets with Practice Council chairs to assist in facilitating unit-based projects. Stacey also models the importance of professional development through her involvement in The Greater Kansas City Chapter of AACN.

I have listed many attributes Stacey has that make the CICU a great place to work all of which directly affect the attitudes and work ethic of the staff, which allows them to provide exceptional patient care. Stacey is dedicated to achieving zero harm by participating in deep-dive analyses of any quality indicator (e.g. CLABSI, HAPI, CAUTI, Fall) and presenting the findings monthly to staff. The information is shared in a non-punitive way, creating a positive environment to receive feedback and learn from moving forward.

I was lucky enough to be paired with Stacey during my Nurse Manager Internship. Stacey immediately took me under her wing and role-modeled what an amazing nurse manager means. On our first day together she asked me what I wanted to learn, and she started showing me what I needed to know right away. By the end of our first week together I had learned more about being a nurse manager than I had learned in months prior. Stacey put me in the lead, as a manager. She took me to every meeting with her. When decisions needed to be made, she asked me what I would do, before telling me what she would do. This helped me gain my own voice and learn to trust myself. Even after I transitioned to another unit, she continues to check in on me and is always available when I need help or guidance. Stacey was one of the first people in my leadership tribe, and she continues to be my sounding board to this day.

Stacey encouraged me to take the lead with her as an ever-present and observant partner. It was with her gentle encouragement that I began to learn my own voice as a leader. At the time when I was first with Stacey, I wasn’t sure what my future with the organization would be. Stacey made it her priority to guide and help me think about the possibilities and where I might be happiest. She is the perfect blend of confidant, mentor, leader, and friend. Stacey has an amazing presence. She is very down-to-earth with her employees and peers; she feels so authentic. Even when she is coaching, you can feel she genuinely cares. I once watched her deliver an action plan to an employee who thanked her afterward. It’s this kind of leadership that makes people feel safe, even when vulnerable.

Stacey motivates others to give their best. This is evidenced by her unit’s excellence in patient care and its Beacon designation. She looks for creative ideas to keep her team engaged; from daily conversations to witty emails to challenges and games. Last year she asked her team to donate to the food drive. She matched the team item for item and thanked those who donated with a raffle opportunity.

Stacey continues to look for innovative ways to keep her team motivated and provide the best outcomes for their patients. She continues to lead her team and challenges them to grow. She has worked hard over the last few years to integrate the comprehensive cardiac program and notably has kept her team on the cutting edge of caring for VAD, and open-heart patients. She is enthusiastic about this program and its success is heavily due to her hard work over the years.

Stacey role models excellence in nursing as a profession. She is an active member of AACN and is the Kansas City Chapter President. This title means she plans and organized the Annual Visions Symposium. Organizing a successful event of this magnitude is no small feat. She orchestrated guest speakers from all over the nation and ensured continuing education requirements. Additionally, in her commitment to her education, she has organized a study group for the manager group for the NEA-BC exam. Stacey continues to push herself and her peers to commit to excellence in nursing.
Stacey is most deserving of this recognition. She continues to lead her team, new managers, and countless others within the organization, across divisions.