Jennifer Pierson
May 2023
Jennifer
Pierson
,
BSN, CCRN
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
Norfolk
,
VA
United States
Jennifer has been the liaison for many process improvement projects, and she nurtures nurses at the bedside to bring any issues to the forefront so that they can be addressed.
The DAISY Award exemplifies the compassionate care that nurses provide every day, and this model is seen not only at the bedside but also in positions of leadership. Jennifer Pierson represents all the tenets of the DAISY and should be selected for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award.
As a colleague, Jennifer is compassionate about her staff and puts this group of nurses first. The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is a difficult environment. With the increasing acuity and staffing crisis, managers are asked to go above and beyond their call to duty, and Jennifer has done this with such grace and compassion. Her love for her staff and the PICU is ever-present and evident in her everyday tasks. Jennifer cares for each and every one of her employees and she is always available to them. Whether it be COVID, a family crisis, or a new graduate nurse who just wants to sit in her office and vent, Jennifer has helped create a culture in the PICU where an open-door policy is not only what we say but what we do. I have seen Jennifer stay late to help with staffing or come in early just to check on the night shift to see if they have any needs. In the office, she cultivates a team environment where each one of our roles is needed to make the unit function and run efficiently. Jennifer’s rapport and long-standing relationship with the PICU physicians help maintain our culture of comradery and collaboration. Jennifer has been the liaison for many process improvement projects, and she nurtures nurses at the bedside to bring any issues to the forefront so that they can be addressed. Many changes in the PICU come from frontline staff, and Jennifer motivates as well as encourages bedside nurses to be change agents.
Last but certainly not least, Jennifer is an advocate for the PICU families. From coming in every morning and speaking to every single caregiver in the unit, to speaking to one particular parent to ensure her needs are met, to making sure the families are supported during the initiation of comfort care for a patient that is dying, Jennifer has made it her mission to put the families first. With this kind of leadership and attitude, the PICU has changed for the better.
As a colleague, Jennifer is compassionate about her staff and puts this group of nurses first. The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is a difficult environment. With the increasing acuity and staffing crisis, managers are asked to go above and beyond their call to duty, and Jennifer has done this with such grace and compassion. Her love for her staff and the PICU is ever-present and evident in her everyday tasks. Jennifer cares for each and every one of her employees and she is always available to them. Whether it be COVID, a family crisis, or a new graduate nurse who just wants to sit in her office and vent, Jennifer has helped create a culture in the PICU where an open-door policy is not only what we say but what we do. I have seen Jennifer stay late to help with staffing or come in early just to check on the night shift to see if they have any needs. In the office, she cultivates a team environment where each one of our roles is needed to make the unit function and run efficiently. Jennifer’s rapport and long-standing relationship with the PICU physicians help maintain our culture of comradery and collaboration. Jennifer has been the liaison for many process improvement projects, and she nurtures nurses at the bedside to bring any issues to the forefront so that they can be addressed. Many changes in the PICU come from frontline staff, and Jennifer motivates as well as encourages bedside nurses to be change agents.
Last but certainly not least, Jennifer is an advocate for the PICU families. From coming in every morning and speaking to every single caregiver in the unit, to speaking to one particular parent to ensure her needs are met, to making sure the families are supported during the initiation of comfort care for a patient that is dying, Jennifer has made it her mission to put the families first. With this kind of leadership and attitude, the PICU has changed for the better.