The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize those nurses who have devoted their life’s work to the compassionate care of others.  Recipients of this award are nominated for their dedication to nursing through active mentoring, role modeling, advocating for their patients, and promoting the positive image of nursing. There is one nurse at UMC who is a perfect fit for this award, and I am sure I am not the only one who would agree.  This nominee first graduated in 1977 and, after passing the boards, started her 46-year career in nursing and counting.  Obtaining her BSN in 1998 and her MSN in 1999, this nominee was establishing herself as an elite nursing leader, and we were fortunate to have her join our team in April 2017. With her vast resume of being an OR Nurse, a Chief Nursing Officer, and everything in between, she has learned how to be a strong mentor, role model, and patient advocate while portraying a positive image of nursing that is perfect for a Pathways and Magnet organization.

She comes with an extensive list of accomplishments and achievements in the nursing field.   She was a CNO at several different hospitals across the United States, has helped two hospitals achieve Magnet Status, has helped UMC achieve Pathway Status, is a PTAP Appraiser, a member of NONL and many other different organizations, and is well known in the community. Although she has such an extensive resume, that is not what we know her for. She is most known for her dedication to UMC and the nurses that care for our beloved patients. Many would agree with me when I say that she has served as a great mentor—officially and unofficially—to many people in this organization. She always has an open door policy and always makes time to listen or talk with whoever walks in the door—even if it means that she has to stay until 2 AM or later. Although she doesn't have any clinical nurses who report directly to her, she is well-known by the nursing staff.  With a heart dedicated to shared leadership, this nominee has helped UMC create our shared leadership structure and councils, unlike others I've seen even at Magnet hospitals. Not only that, she is actively engaged in almost all the existing councils and even stays until 10 p.m. as a leadership representative for the Night Council.  

Though she has done so much for our organization, I can't help but share the impact that she has had on my own life. I have been blessed to work under such a fantastic leader like her. 

Even as a staff nurse, this nominee saw me as what I could be and has been supportive and encouraging in helping me pursue my dream of being a Clinical Nurse Specialist. She has taught me what it means to be a transformational leader, motivating me to exemplify this leadership style in my practice. When it comes to knowledge, this nominee is a walking textbook. On several occasions, I've had to run into her office and share with her how I just learned or read about something we discussed just a few days ago. Despite her wealth of knowledge, this nominee always maintains a humble spirit and is arguably one of the most humble people I know. She has taught me how to engage the staff as a leader and the importance of constantly reminding them of why they became nurses to reignite the fire in hard times. Although I could share so many other ways in which she has impacted my life, please know that I am but one person of the many she has touched.   The nursing profession is better because of her.

Note: This is Cathleen's 2nd DAISY Award!