Theresa Breckley
December 2023
Theresa
Breckley
,
MSN, RN, CNRN
TJUH Interventional Endoscopy
Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals
Philadelphia
,
PA
United States
Tracey is special. She is dedicated and intelligent, and most of all, she truly cares about the patients and staff of the TJUH Endoscopy suite. Her strong commitment to our unit shines through every day.
Tracey is a very dedicated Nurse Leader who always puts her coworkers and patients first. She stepped up into this role when our unit needed her most. She never fails to help out and always has a positive attitude. No matter how busy Tracey is with management projects, she will always put her staff and patients first to make sure we are all okay. She is present on the unit and always makes it known that she is available. Tracey has many years of experience as a nurse and is a very devoted and knowledgeable nurse in our endoscopy unit. This is one of the many reasons why she is a great leader and an asset to our team. Tracey deserves this award because she does whatever she can to help out our team. Whether it's staying late with the staff nurses, coming in on the weekends, or always making herself available when staff is on call, she stands by our sides and represents a true leader and nurse advocate.
***
This spring, when our manager position unexpectedly became vacant, Tracey stepped up into the role with someone who knew the ins and outs of how things run. She keeps a calm and level head during moments of high tension. She is always ready to lend a hand and an ear. Without Tracey, over these last six months, we wouldn't have had a captain for our ship. She has done the best job that she could have done.
***
I am a gastroenterologist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. In the last several years working with Tracey, I have come to admire her nonstop willingness to step up and help out. She always worries about the wellness of her staff and the physicians. No task is too big or too small. She is a true leader and role model for all nurses.
***
Theresa (Tracey) Breckley is special. She is not one to seek out a leadership position, but they seem to keep finding her. About 2 years ago in November 2021, our Endoscopy clinical nurse educator left, and Tracey was asked to become the new one. Even though she loved the role of Endo charge nurse and was fantastic in it, she answered the call and took the new position. She took a deep dive into the scope cleaning room and all the equipment needed in advanced Endoscopy procedures and she has become an expert in these areas. Fast forward to May 2023, we found ourselves without our longtime unit manager, and again Tracey was asked to fill a void. She stepped into this very challenging and demanding unit manager position because she felt it was the right thing to do. She continues to work within both the roles of Clinical Educator and Unit Manager today with grace and positivity despite the tremendous amount of extra time (well over 40 hours weekly) and energy (she has 50+ staff members relying on her) that is needed for the job. She is a primary player in unit hiring, staff training, equipment ordering, daily schedule troubleshooting, and even fills in nursing roles when we are short-staffed. As I said at the beginning - Tracey is special. She is dedicated and intelligent, and most of all, she truly cares about the patients and staff of the TJUH Endoscopy suite. Her strong commitment to our unit shines through every day.
***
Tracey stepped into the role of Nurse Educator at the request of the current manager at a time of a challenging staff turnover. Last winter, the nurse manager position was unexpectedly open, and the current administration asked Tracey to become acting manager. In a flash, Tracey learned payroll, budgeting, staffing, interviewing, recruitment, purchasing, equipment acquisitions, sterile reprocessing, attained clinical certification, and revamped the orientation process for RNs and technicians. She has made upgrades to EPIC and coached the staff through new procedures, new equipment, and has created new policies. Tracey takes administrative calls and has come in during personal time off to take calls and work as staff. She continues to fulfill all aspects of the nurse educator role despite the termination of that position. Tracey is able to troubleshoot human and equipment crises with knowledge and compassion. She is remarkable in her ability to lead and motivate. She is a true DAISY Nurse Leader.
***
Tracey was our wonderful nurse educator and stepped up upon request of administration to our nurse manager role when our manager left. She had no experience in this position and has excelled. When we are short-staffed or need lunch breaks, she is out on the floor or in the procedure rooms working to make sure everyone has a break, even when she has not had her own lunch yet. She always advocates for the wellness, needs, and safety of the staff and patients on the unit. She is not just our manager but our venting soundboard. Her door is always open with an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. She always has chocolate/candy in her office in case staff needs a pick-me-up. She makes rounds daily to make sure we are all having a good day and what she can help with to make it a better day. She is extremely knowledgeable, caring, and a wonderful mentor. She goes above and beyond in everything she does.
***
I have had the pleasure of working with Tracey for several years now. When I first came to the endoscopy unit, Tracey was a kind and friendly face who quickly made me feel welcome. Watching her constantly working to help her fellow coworkers and provide the best patient care she could was truly an inspiration to me. Over the years, I have watched Tracey evolve in her career and education while in Endoscopy. After graduating from her master's program, she became a charge nurse. As a charge nurse, she never sat down; she would be helping the admissions staff place IVs, help with room turnaround, and assist in making stretchers and walking our patients out to their rides for her entire ten-hour shift. After charge nurse, Tracey furthered her career by becoming our Educator. She stepped out of her comfort zone and helped elevate the entire unit to be the best we could be. She is currently filling in as our unit manager. Tracey was asked to take control over our unit during an extremely challenging time. As always, Tracey took on this new challenge with a brave face and made herself available to her staff day or night. I personally was on call and was dealing with a unique situation the very first week Tracey was acting manager. Tracey calmly took control and helped me resolve the issue. Tracey has been a constant positive light and guidance for me in endoscopy, a true role model for her staff inside work and outside.
***
Tracey's self-sacrifice and dedication to Jefferson and her colleagues deserve recognition. Tracey, our nurse educator, stepped up and took on this additional position with her sole motivation to help our patients, colleagues, and Jefferson.
***
This spring, when our manager position unexpectedly became vacant, Tracey stepped up into the role with someone who knew the ins and outs of how things run. She keeps a calm and level head during moments of high tension. She is always ready to lend a hand and an ear. Without Tracey, over these last six months, we wouldn't have had a captain for our ship. She has done the best job that she could have done.
***
I am a gastroenterologist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. In the last several years working with Tracey, I have come to admire her nonstop willingness to step up and help out. She always worries about the wellness of her staff and the physicians. No task is too big or too small. She is a true leader and role model for all nurses.
***
Theresa (Tracey) Breckley is special. She is not one to seek out a leadership position, but they seem to keep finding her. About 2 years ago in November 2021, our Endoscopy clinical nurse educator left, and Tracey was asked to become the new one. Even though she loved the role of Endo charge nurse and was fantastic in it, she answered the call and took the new position. She took a deep dive into the scope cleaning room and all the equipment needed in advanced Endoscopy procedures and she has become an expert in these areas. Fast forward to May 2023, we found ourselves without our longtime unit manager, and again Tracey was asked to fill a void. She stepped into this very challenging and demanding unit manager position because she felt it was the right thing to do. She continues to work within both the roles of Clinical Educator and Unit Manager today with grace and positivity despite the tremendous amount of extra time (well over 40 hours weekly) and energy (she has 50+ staff members relying on her) that is needed for the job. She is a primary player in unit hiring, staff training, equipment ordering, daily schedule troubleshooting, and even fills in nursing roles when we are short-staffed. As I said at the beginning - Tracey is special. She is dedicated and intelligent, and most of all, she truly cares about the patients and staff of the TJUH Endoscopy suite. Her strong commitment to our unit shines through every day.
***
Tracey stepped into the role of Nurse Educator at the request of the current manager at a time of a challenging staff turnover. Last winter, the nurse manager position was unexpectedly open, and the current administration asked Tracey to become acting manager. In a flash, Tracey learned payroll, budgeting, staffing, interviewing, recruitment, purchasing, equipment acquisitions, sterile reprocessing, attained clinical certification, and revamped the orientation process for RNs and technicians. She has made upgrades to EPIC and coached the staff through new procedures, new equipment, and has created new policies. Tracey takes administrative calls and has come in during personal time off to take calls and work as staff. She continues to fulfill all aspects of the nurse educator role despite the termination of that position. Tracey is able to troubleshoot human and equipment crises with knowledge and compassion. She is remarkable in her ability to lead and motivate. She is a true DAISY Nurse Leader.
***
Tracey was our wonderful nurse educator and stepped up upon request of administration to our nurse manager role when our manager left. She had no experience in this position and has excelled. When we are short-staffed or need lunch breaks, she is out on the floor or in the procedure rooms working to make sure everyone has a break, even when she has not had her own lunch yet. She always advocates for the wellness, needs, and safety of the staff and patients on the unit. She is not just our manager but our venting soundboard. Her door is always open with an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. She always has chocolate/candy in her office in case staff needs a pick-me-up. She makes rounds daily to make sure we are all having a good day and what she can help with to make it a better day. She is extremely knowledgeable, caring, and a wonderful mentor. She goes above and beyond in everything she does.
***
I have had the pleasure of working with Tracey for several years now. When I first came to the endoscopy unit, Tracey was a kind and friendly face who quickly made me feel welcome. Watching her constantly working to help her fellow coworkers and provide the best patient care she could was truly an inspiration to me. Over the years, I have watched Tracey evolve in her career and education while in Endoscopy. After graduating from her master's program, she became a charge nurse. As a charge nurse, she never sat down; she would be helping the admissions staff place IVs, help with room turnaround, and assist in making stretchers and walking our patients out to their rides for her entire ten-hour shift. After charge nurse, Tracey furthered her career by becoming our Educator. She stepped out of her comfort zone and helped elevate the entire unit to be the best we could be. She is currently filling in as our unit manager. Tracey was asked to take control over our unit during an extremely challenging time. As always, Tracey took on this new challenge with a brave face and made herself available to her staff day or night. I personally was on call and was dealing with a unique situation the very first week Tracey was acting manager. Tracey calmly took control and helped me resolve the issue. Tracey has been a constant positive light and guidance for me in endoscopy, a true role model for her staff inside work and outside.
***
Tracey's self-sacrifice and dedication to Jefferson and her colleagues deserve recognition. Tracey, our nurse educator, stepped up and took on this additional position with her sole motivation to help our patients, colleagues, and Jefferson.