Carol Thetford
May 2023
Carol
Thetford
,
RN, BS
Administration
Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women
Memphis
,
TN
United States
She is leaving quite the legacy: nurse, leader, mentor, and most importantly, friend. Carol, you have set the stage at Womens for our continued success as we provide quality care for our patients.
Today, we are also presenting the special DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. This award has never been presented at Womens and Childrens and its purpose is intended for nurses who have devoted their life’s work to the compassionate care of others.
A simple thank you is not enough to say as we celebrate our CNO. After 43 years with Baptist, one of its finest is retiring. She is leaving quite the legacy: nurse, leader, mentor, and most importantly, friend. Carol, you have set the stage at Womens for our continued success as we provide quality care for our patients. Your vision has brought us to this point and we do NOT want to let you down. You have taught us well and we hope to make you proud as we continue the work set before us.
We did not realize our incredible fortune when you took a position in our NICU after graduating from the Baptist School of Nursing in 1980. You demonstrated such care and concern for your patients and fellow nurses. Naturally, you were promoted because of your obvious leadership skills.
When you started in the NICU, the field was much different than it is today. You had to be creative to provide care because products simply did not exist and adult equipment had to be adjusted to make it work. The real difference you made though was in the relationships you formed with each of your patients, their families, fellow nurses, RTs, and physicians. You cared for the babies as if they were your own and everyone could tell. We knew you really cared and you were a role model for fellow nurses. You became the night shift head nurse and made the night shift fun and collegial! You were promoted to the NICU Nurse Manager and were respected and admired. The NICU had the lowest nursing turnover in the system for years based on the framework and team that you helped to create.
It was no surprise to anyone when you were asked to take the CNO role and you certainly flourished in the role! You have been such a great leader over your many years. Leaders like you are rare. You are always approachable and understanding but also confident and strong as a leader. During challenging times, turmoil, and change, we could count on you to take charge and provide direction. We know it was not an easy job, but is one you did with grace. Many of the nurse managers have recounted how you ‘took a chance on them’ because they lacked experience in their new roles and you guided them through it. We have learned so much from you over the years.
You leave a grateful team that is so happy to see you finally enjoy the retirement that you deserve. You will be missed, but you are on to the next chapter of your life and one that we all know you will achieve and pursue with the same passion that you did with your work here. It makes us sad to see you go, but also happy, because we love you so much. You have been a treasure to our Baptist family throughout the years.
A simple thank you is not enough to say as we celebrate our CNO. After 43 years with Baptist, one of its finest is retiring. She is leaving quite the legacy: nurse, leader, mentor, and most importantly, friend. Carol, you have set the stage at Womens for our continued success as we provide quality care for our patients. Your vision has brought us to this point and we do NOT want to let you down. You have taught us well and we hope to make you proud as we continue the work set before us.
We did not realize our incredible fortune when you took a position in our NICU after graduating from the Baptist School of Nursing in 1980. You demonstrated such care and concern for your patients and fellow nurses. Naturally, you were promoted because of your obvious leadership skills.
When you started in the NICU, the field was much different than it is today. You had to be creative to provide care because products simply did not exist and adult equipment had to be adjusted to make it work. The real difference you made though was in the relationships you formed with each of your patients, their families, fellow nurses, RTs, and physicians. You cared for the babies as if they were your own and everyone could tell. We knew you really cared and you were a role model for fellow nurses. You became the night shift head nurse and made the night shift fun and collegial! You were promoted to the NICU Nurse Manager and were respected and admired. The NICU had the lowest nursing turnover in the system for years based on the framework and team that you helped to create.
It was no surprise to anyone when you were asked to take the CNO role and you certainly flourished in the role! You have been such a great leader over your many years. Leaders like you are rare. You are always approachable and understanding but also confident and strong as a leader. During challenging times, turmoil, and change, we could count on you to take charge and provide direction. We know it was not an easy job, but is one you did with grace. Many of the nurse managers have recounted how you ‘took a chance on them’ because they lacked experience in their new roles and you guided them through it. We have learned so much from you over the years.
You leave a grateful team that is so happy to see you finally enjoy the retirement that you deserve. You will be missed, but you are on to the next chapter of your life and one that we all know you will achieve and pursue with the same passion that you did with your work here. It makes us sad to see you go, but also happy, because we love you so much. You have been a treasure to our Baptist family throughout the years.