Kay has mastered the delicate balance of fair, consistent leadership while being kind and honest. Kay cultivates trust and professionalism within her department, and she is an unbelievable patient advocate. I have witnessed Kay consistently prioritize the needs of patients in operational planning, and I have seen her drop everything she was working on to spend 1:1 time with a patient in need of emotional support. The below unsolicited letter from one of her direct reports captures the spirit of Kay’s leadership. 

As you may have heard, I am leaving my position at UC Davis Health to pursue personal goals however, I am compelled to take this opportunity to acknowledge Kay Behan and share a little bit about my experience in working for her.

I came to UC Davis with no previous experience in management and unbeknownst to me, Kay had no experience with training a new AN I.  I never would have guessed.  Right from the start, she seemed to understand the perfect formula for allowing independence and autonomy yet offering all the support and resources that one would need to succeed. Instead of feeling intimidated, I felt empowered to take on new experiences. I made my share of mistakes, which she always addressed. But she did so in a way that felt educational, not disciplinary. She donates wisdom, not criticism, to almost any circumstance.

An example of this is when I thought I had ordered 5 pillows for the unit and instead I received 5 cases (20 pillows in each case). She just smiled and said, “You’re going to send some of those back, aren’t you?”  She never turned non-issues into an issue. 

She has graciously given me credit for getting the Advanced Wound Clinic launched, but she is the true champion behind every part of this project. For every minute of my effort in accomplishing a task, it took her 15-20 minutes to explain “the how,” which we all know takes a tremendous amount of patience.  In certain circumstances, it certainly would have been easier for her to take care of things herself, but I’m so grateful that she stepped aside to let me get the experience.

I’ve observed Kay in some of the most challenging situations imaginable, and her poise, grace, and composure never falter. Ever. For sure, she leads by example.

In 35 years of nursing, I’ve been lucky enough to work under mostly great management, but I think Kay is one of a few immediate supervisors who stands out as being extraordinary.  My hope in writing this letter is that she is acknowledged in whatever way her leadership celebrates great leaders.  She’s made a lasting impression on me, and I feel privileged to have worked under her authority.