May 2023
Polly
Willis
,
MSN, RN-BC, PCCN
Nursing Administration
Emory University Hospital/Emory Wesley Woods Hospital
Atlanta
,
GA
United States
Perhaps Polly’s greatest attribute as a leader is her ability to influence others. She has strong communication skills, is visionary, and is an active listener.
Polly possesses a number of important qualities of an authentic leader. As the Magnet Program Director for Emory University Hospital, Polly is committed to providing meaningful recognition to all staff. She is an active participant in a plethora of nursing leadership meetings and gleans exemplars of excellence in each setting. She then has a tremendous gift of articulating others’ successes in writing. This was particularly important as nurses worked in challenging conditions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Reading how nurses’ contributions made a difference and demonstrated clinical excellence during such demanding times made the feedback that much more appreciated.
Polly also provides meaningful recognition in other ways. She nominates nurses for the Magnet Nurse of the Year, March of Dimes Heroes in Action, and Atlanta Journal Constitution Nurse of the Year awards to name a few. She has an office stocked with snacks and treats, which she helps deliver to staff on the units to help demonstrate nursing leadership’s appreciation for staff contributions. These are typically well-received and bring smiles to staff members’ faces when her stocked cart appears on the units.
Polly prioritizes others’ self-development. She brings opportunities to others to showcase their work. For example, she advocates for nurses to present and publish their work through articles in refereed journals and abstracts for local, regional, and national conferences, such as the Magnet® conference.
Polly is ethically minded. She serves on the Emory University Hospital Ethics Committee and shows empathy for those dealing with trying situations. She can appreciate the patient and healthcare team members’ perspectives. Having high levels of systems thinking, Polly also has a gift of being able to focus on the big picture of a situation. When providing feedback or an opinion on a circumstance, she not only considers the immediate effects but also the long-term implications for the hospital and healthcare system. She doesn’t get distracted or bogged down by small details with little to no relevance to the matter at hand.
Polly is a willing participant in whatever needs to be done to get the job done. Most recently, she participated in changing out patients’ mattresses throughout the hospital in order to promote patient safety and comfort.
Perhaps Polly’s greatest attribute as a leader is her ability to influence others. She has strong communication skills, is visionary, and is an active listener. These are all essential qualities of a DAISY Nurse Leader.
Polly also provides meaningful recognition in other ways. She nominates nurses for the Magnet Nurse of the Year, March of Dimes Heroes in Action, and Atlanta Journal Constitution Nurse of the Year awards to name a few. She has an office stocked with snacks and treats, which she helps deliver to staff on the units to help demonstrate nursing leadership’s appreciation for staff contributions. These are typically well-received and bring smiles to staff members’ faces when her stocked cart appears on the units.
Polly prioritizes others’ self-development. She brings opportunities to others to showcase their work. For example, she advocates for nurses to present and publish their work through articles in refereed journals and abstracts for local, regional, and national conferences, such as the Magnet® conference.
Polly is ethically minded. She serves on the Emory University Hospital Ethics Committee and shows empathy for those dealing with trying situations. She can appreciate the patient and healthcare team members’ perspectives. Having high levels of systems thinking, Polly also has a gift of being able to focus on the big picture of a situation. When providing feedback or an opinion on a circumstance, she not only considers the immediate effects but also the long-term implications for the hospital and healthcare system. She doesn’t get distracted or bogged down by small details with little to no relevance to the matter at hand.
Polly is a willing participant in whatever needs to be done to get the job done. Most recently, she participated in changing out patients’ mattresses throughout the hospital in order to promote patient safety and comfort.
Perhaps Polly’s greatest attribute as a leader is her ability to influence others. She has strong communication skills, is visionary, and is an active listener. These are all essential qualities of a DAISY Nurse Leader.