Joann Cruz
May 2024
Joann
Cruz
,
MSN, RN, PMH-BC
15th Floor Behavioral Health
Ascension Saint Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center
Chicago
,
IL
United States

 

 

 

Her ability to connect with individuals on a personal level and offer support during challenging times earned her the respect and admiration of her colleagues and patients alike. Her passion for helping others led her to further her education and become a registered nurse on the unit, where she continued to make a positive impact on the lives of those she cared for.
Our nurse leader is there for us from the start of the shift to the end. She demonstrates great leadership by teaching us to care for one another and for our patients. Even though she is busy with meetings or at home, she is always there to answer our calls. I honestly can't see this unit functioning without her compassionate heart. I can't recall a day that she doesn't check up on her staff the moment they step into the conference room. 

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Our nurse manager attends/sits with her staff during shift change report so any job related concerns that are being brought up are addressed right away. In addition to this, she can be reached 24/7 and she answers as fast as she can even if she's on leave or on vacation. She is very approachable and an 'easy to deal with' manager. She always appreciates and acknowledges her staff which motivates us to give our best in everything we do. She is very supportive of her staff and we look up her. 

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Our nurse manager is the most thoughtful, empathetic leader there is. She is always checking on her staff's well-being and her main concern is safety. She assures us that she is listening, she assists staff in any way she can, and she brings us food to remind us we matter. She never asks for anything in return except for us to do our best. She is the most compassionate person at St. Mary's. Our nurse leader has worked here for years and is truly dedicated to this hospital. Our unit would not be what it is without her.

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Our nurse manager is an extraordinary leader. She always puts her staff and patients first and makes time for others.

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I would like to nominate our nurse manager. She is an effective manager who encourages and enables her team members to act and use the power and skills they have. She always involves every member for collaboration, provides choices, and supports the decisions of others. She has strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to inspire, influence, and motivate staff to work together to achieve their highest potential. I believe she is a great nurse leader and role model who is committed to excellence and is passionate for patients' advocacy and employee protection.

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Our nurse manager is beyond a leader- she is very understanding, down to earth, a team player, and someone I feel comfortable talking to. I would love to celebrate her as the best Nurse Leader. 

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Our floor manager embodies the core values of compassion, empathy and integrity making a lasting impact on the lives of those she cares for. Her dedication to providing personalized and holistic care to each patient reflects her genuine passion for nursing and her deep commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. 

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During my journey working here at this hospital for over 25 years, I can remember our nurse leader being a counselor, to secretary to charge nurse and making her way to nurse manager. Seeing her grow throughout all the positions shows dedication and describes a true leader as very few people would have climbed the ladder as our manager did. No one comes to mind when I see this remarkable woman. She demonstrates love and compassion when addressing the needs of the staff. She is a mother, daughter, sister, wife, and I thank God for knowing such a remarkable lady.  I hope she is selected for this remarkable nurse leader award. 

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Our nurse manager is thoughtful and accommodating. Her leadership skills helps staff members to pursue their own goals. 

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I have known our nurse leader for a while and I think she is an excellent role model. When I first met her she was the unit secretary and now she is our leader with hard work and determination. Our leader creates an environment that you are able to work in and is fair and understanding. I am very proud to be working for her. 

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When I think of our manager, I think of the type of leader I would like to be one day- honest, caring, and a safe space for others to come to, especially in the environment we work in. Personally, she has given me a chance to grow in a career that I never thought I would be in. She has been the best example of a leader in the field of healthcare. nursing and education. It is her nurturing spirit that creates a calm environment when she walks into a room. I will always look up to our leader!

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Our manager has been a great leader! Staff and patients can come to her for anything. Her door is always open to everyone. She is understanding of every single situation and is also very supportive of her employee's professional development. She is willing to accommodate staff schedules and is always there whenever something is going on in the unit. She will even gladly relieve staff when the unit is short. I have also witnessed her personally talk to a patient every day until the patient was discharged. She listens empathetically to all of the concerns without being judged. She would personally great patients as she rounded in the unit and would go above and beyond both for her staff members and patients. She truly deserves this award for all the never-ending hard work and dedication she has put into her work with her patients and employees. 

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Our manager is here for her staff, here for the patients and here for the department. Throughout the time I've worked under her, I've witnessed just how far she is willing to go to make sure that everyone's needs are met. Everyone from patients to staff is listened to, seen, and heard, and above all, she is willing to give others the benefit of the doubt. It is hard to find a leader who will give you guidance and happily offer services and aid when it is needed. 

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Our nurse manager is always welcoming, willing to provide help and support to staff and patients when needed. She is dedicated and insightful. 

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Our leader exhibits all the 'pillars' of the Ascension Mission. She is always helpful, courteous generous and available when needed. 

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Working with our leader has been an amazing experience. She really puts a lot of care into what she does and helps to provide the best care to our patients. She is a very positive person who always makes sure to provide as much support. Our leader is the embodiment of what a good nurse is.

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Our nurse leader is highly motivating team leader. She is available for anyone who needs help. I've seen her stay very positive and calm under pressure on the unit with patients and staff members. She has a talent to solve all problems on our unit and inspires me to do my best at work. Her dedication to the unit leads to a more positive work environment and I've heard from others that they love coming to work because of our leader. 

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I am nominating our leader as she always assists in any code/emergency in the unit and makes sure everybody is ok. She checks in with everyone in the unit to see if anyone needs anything. She is very approachable, talks to people with respect and dignity, and treats everyone like family. Her demeanor is always calm and composed, and she encourages people to work and help one another in the unit. She uplifts the values in this workplace to a high standard. 

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Joann's story is a testament to her dedication, perseverance, and passion for patient care. Her journey with Ascension began as a secretary, during which time she quickly demonstrated her commitment to supporting patients and their families. Her strong work ethic and compassion for others did not go unnoticed, and she was encouraged to pursue a career as a counselor within the department. As a counselor, she excelled in providing compassionate and empathetic care to patients in need. Her ability to connect with individuals on a personal level and offer support during challenging times earned her the respect and admiration of her colleagues and patients alike. Her passion for helping others led her to further her education and become a registered nurse on the unit, where she continued to make a positive impact on the lives of those she cared for. Through hard work and dedication, our leader rose through the ranks to become the head nurse of the department. In this role, she demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, fostering a culture of teamwork, compassion, and excellence in patient care. Her commitment to continuous improvement and patient-centered care led her to pursue further education and training, ultimately culminating in her current position as the department manager. As the department manager, she has continued to inspire and motivate her team to deliver high-quality care to every patient who walks through the doors of Ascension St. Mary's Hospital. Her leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to patient well-being have had a profound impact on the department's success and the overall quality of care provided to our patients. Her journey from a secretary to a department manager is a remarkable example of dedication, perseverance, and leadership. Her passion for patient care and her commitment to excellence make her a true DAISY Nurse Leader.