Dulce Lopez
May 2023
Dulce
Lopez
,
MSN, RN, NEA-BC
General Trauma/Surgery
Parkland Health
Dallas
,
TX
United States
Dulce is a compassionate leader; she knows her staff well on a personal and professional level. She creates and fosters a family atmosphere where every member is valued.
I first met Dulce when she was interviewing for a nursing student/PCA role 13 years ago and her passion for nursing was obvious. I have grown closer to her over the past few years as a peer and her leader and witnessed her passion become stronger. She is a wonderful caring person. Dulce lives the Parkland HRO/ICARE values and brings them to the workplace.
Dulce is a compassionate leader; she knows her staff well on a personal and professional level. Her unit is described as a strong family unit. She creates and fosters a family atmosphere where every member is valued. Dulce does not miss an opportunity to celebrate her staff successes, birthdays, babies, weddings, and all team-building occasions. You can go to her office and see the current event she is planning for the staff.
During Texas freeze events, Dulce prepares by shopping to ensure food, drinks, and snacks are available for the staff. During every freeze disaster, she was present on the unit first thing in the morning ensuring everyone had something to eat, transportation, and/or a place to sleep. Dulce has a heart of gold. When she hears of a staff member, patient, or anyone in need. She gives out of her own pocket and never says a word.
Dulce’s walk of kindness and generosity has rubbed off on her team. She and her team collected a love fund for a member of her team after a traumatic event. It’s not unusual to hear of families being adopted by Dulce and her team, especially at Christmas. They ensure patients' birthdays are celebrated with decorations and cake. There was a patient on her unit that suffered many injuries from a car accident. The patient was very worried about her children on Christmas, Dulce and her team adopted this family providing Christmas for the entire family.
Just as COVID-19 was beginning in 2020, Dulce combined her unit with another unit. Her move was not yet solid when the COVID patient admissions began to increase. The hospital needs to create a COVID unit began, and Dulce stepped up to assist everywhere she could with the foundation of the build. She worked with her staff as they volunteered, and she served with them. She did this as she kept her 36-bed unit up and running. Dulce never complained, she found a way to serve patients and employees.
Just recently I was informed of an experienced nurse applicant returning to Parkland. She had previously worked on Dulce’s unit but left to become a Travel RN. When asked why she was coming back to Parkland she stated after many Travel assignments she never had a manager like Dulce. Dulce is on the unit, cleaning rooms, helping with patients, answering the phones, ensuring breaks, and more. She said Dulce is the reason she is coming back.
The number of Dallas County patients and staff Dulce has touched are too many to count. The relationships she has built have been loyal and sincere. Her team has received the DAISY Team Award at least twice. She has many DAISY and ROSE Honorees on her floor. Her Employee engagement is at the top with 99 -100% participation. Dulce is an amazing person and leader and I am honored to nominate her for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award.
Dulce is a compassionate leader; she knows her staff well on a personal and professional level. Her unit is described as a strong family unit. She creates and fosters a family atmosphere where every member is valued. Dulce does not miss an opportunity to celebrate her staff successes, birthdays, babies, weddings, and all team-building occasions. You can go to her office and see the current event she is planning for the staff.
During Texas freeze events, Dulce prepares by shopping to ensure food, drinks, and snacks are available for the staff. During every freeze disaster, she was present on the unit first thing in the morning ensuring everyone had something to eat, transportation, and/or a place to sleep. Dulce has a heart of gold. When she hears of a staff member, patient, or anyone in need. She gives out of her own pocket and never says a word.
Dulce’s walk of kindness and generosity has rubbed off on her team. She and her team collected a love fund for a member of her team after a traumatic event. It’s not unusual to hear of families being adopted by Dulce and her team, especially at Christmas. They ensure patients' birthdays are celebrated with decorations and cake. There was a patient on her unit that suffered many injuries from a car accident. The patient was very worried about her children on Christmas, Dulce and her team adopted this family providing Christmas for the entire family.
Just as COVID-19 was beginning in 2020, Dulce combined her unit with another unit. Her move was not yet solid when the COVID patient admissions began to increase. The hospital needs to create a COVID unit began, and Dulce stepped up to assist everywhere she could with the foundation of the build. She worked with her staff as they volunteered, and she served with them. She did this as she kept her 36-bed unit up and running. Dulce never complained, she found a way to serve patients and employees.
Just recently I was informed of an experienced nurse applicant returning to Parkland. She had previously worked on Dulce’s unit but left to become a Travel RN. When asked why she was coming back to Parkland she stated after many Travel assignments she never had a manager like Dulce. Dulce is on the unit, cleaning rooms, helping with patients, answering the phones, ensuring breaks, and more. She said Dulce is the reason she is coming back.
The number of Dallas County patients and staff Dulce has touched are too many to count. The relationships she has built have been loyal and sincere. Her team has received the DAISY Team Award at least twice. She has many DAISY and ROSE Honorees on her floor. Her Employee engagement is at the top with 99 -100% participation. Dulce is an amazing person and leader and I am honored to nominate her for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award.