Tammy is the epitome of what every nurse should strive to be. She arrives to work with a smile every day, hits the floor running and is not afraid to get her hands dirty and doesn't mind helping anybody & everybody. As a leader, she possesses the ability to keep her cool during stressful times, remains fair in practice, and truly has her employees' backs & wants the best for them. 

Tammy has a heart of gold. She makes it a priority to check in on her staff who may be out on leave/sick and always remembers to acknowledge celebrations (such as birthdays and anniversaries). She is a talented leader, who becomes extremely creative during holidays (for example Halloween), creating huge charcuterie tables filled with treats all shaped in skeleton pieces. 

Tammy's middle name should be "TEAMWORK". She does not know how to be anything but a member of the team. You can't make her slow down, take a break, or even go home after her shift. I personally have seen her work a hard 12-hour shift but stay 4-hours over (just to make sure her team remains caught up on tasks and has a less stressful day), to then depart for home and return back at 7 pm to fulfill her own shift. As a leader, she has created a work environment where we all are treated like we have been her next-door neighbors for years and have a voice in the decisions made within the neighborhood. 

Tammy inspires! She can be found daily observing and writing positive quotes (on whiteboards) that inspire and motivate her staff. She leads by example with her strong work ethic, willingness to assist and drive to do whatever it takes to make her unit successful. As the ANM, I have seen her without hesitation jump in to assist CNAs (when we are short-staffed) take on patient assignments. As a leader, she goes over and beyond her duties. 

Tammy operates with an Open Door Policy. The entire team has her personal number and feels very comfortable in using it if necessary. Even if we just need to talk to her about things (rather related to our personal- life or work life), she is always there for us. As a leader, she listens, teaches, and guides with patience and will take the time to make sure we fully understand the task at hand.

Tammy is professional to her patients, colleagues, staff, and family. She is a leader you can trust and one who has a sense of humor! It is with those qualities, along with being empathic and an excellent communicator, is how she herself reflects the ideal place where individuals want to work daily. 

This community is full of good nurses that take great care, but if I had my choice, she would be the nurse that I would personally seek after!