Heather Bonn
September 2025
Heather
Bonn
,
RN, MSN, CMSRN, CNML
3 South
St. Joseph's Hospital North
Lutz
,
FL
United States
Her hands-on approach demonstrates their belief that no task is too small when it comes to ensuring patients receive compassionate, dignified care
It is with great admiration and appreciation that our unit's Professional Practice Council nominated Heather for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Heather exemplifies what it means to be an exceptional nurse leader, fostering a culture of compassion, professional growth, and collaboration. Her ability to lead with empathy and compassion creates an environment where nurses feel supported, valued, and empowered. She cares for their team members as if they are their own family, taking the time to understand their personal and professional challenges and helping them succeed by connecting them with BayCare resources.
Heather is an advocate for team members to chase their career goals and actively supports them in achieving their aspirations. She doesn’t just talk about leadership; she teaches by example, showing us that being a good person to both our patients and our colleagues creates a truly great environment to work in and be cared for. Heather's dedication to patient care goes beyond expectations. She can often be found in patient rooms, not only conducting nurse leader rounding but also engaging in meaningful conversations with patients and their families, learning about their lives, their diagnoses, and their personal experiences.
Heather doesn’t hesitate to provide direct care, whether it’s toileting patients, assisting with baths, or even cleaning under their fingernails. Her hands-on approach demonstrates their belief that no task is too small when it comes to ensuring patients receive compassionate, dignified care. Effective communication is at the heart of Heather's leadership. She actively listens to staff concerns, advocates for necessary resources, and provides clear and concise guidance. She approaches every conversation with transparency and respect, making it easy for staff to trust their leadership and seek their guidance.
She grows nurse leaders by allowing us to identify problems and serves as a mentor for solutions, never micromanaging. She empowers the team to think critically, take ownership of challenges, and develop their leadership skills in a supportive environment. Because of Heather's trust in our abilities, we feel confident in making decisions and contributing to positive change.
I was asked to nominate Heather by multiple team members, a testament to the profound impact she has on all of us. She is more than a nurse leader; she is an inspiration. Her unwavering dedication to nursing, the team, and the patients makes Heather an ideal candidate for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. It is an honor to work alongside Heather, and I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition.
***
Heather truly embodies our values and our mission. She leads by example, from engaging in direct patient care to housekeeping, cleaning breakrooms, nourishment rooms, and microwaves. If you look at our unit performance matrices and compare them to other departments, you see where we excel.
This is not by coincidence; this is a true reflection of Heather's management style, always advocating for the team, being fair and impartial, always with their door open and available to the team. She keeps our team on the same page with effective communication skills, timely team meetings, and sets expectations that are real, achievable, and measurable. We recognize her tireless efforts, unflinching dedication, and steadfast leadership skills.
Heather is an advocate for team members to chase their career goals and actively supports them in achieving their aspirations. She doesn’t just talk about leadership; she teaches by example, showing us that being a good person to both our patients and our colleagues creates a truly great environment to work in and be cared for. Heather's dedication to patient care goes beyond expectations. She can often be found in patient rooms, not only conducting nurse leader rounding but also engaging in meaningful conversations with patients and their families, learning about their lives, their diagnoses, and their personal experiences.
Heather doesn’t hesitate to provide direct care, whether it’s toileting patients, assisting with baths, or even cleaning under their fingernails. Her hands-on approach demonstrates their belief that no task is too small when it comes to ensuring patients receive compassionate, dignified care. Effective communication is at the heart of Heather's leadership. She actively listens to staff concerns, advocates for necessary resources, and provides clear and concise guidance. She approaches every conversation with transparency and respect, making it easy for staff to trust their leadership and seek their guidance.
She grows nurse leaders by allowing us to identify problems and serves as a mentor for solutions, never micromanaging. She empowers the team to think critically, take ownership of challenges, and develop their leadership skills in a supportive environment. Because of Heather's trust in our abilities, we feel confident in making decisions and contributing to positive change.
I was asked to nominate Heather by multiple team members, a testament to the profound impact she has on all of us. She is more than a nurse leader; she is an inspiration. Her unwavering dedication to nursing, the team, and the patients makes Heather an ideal candidate for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. It is an honor to work alongside Heather, and I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition.
***
Heather truly embodies our values and our mission. She leads by example, from engaging in direct patient care to housekeeping, cleaning breakrooms, nourishment rooms, and microwaves. If you look at our unit performance matrices and compare them to other departments, you see where we excel.
This is not by coincidence; this is a true reflection of Heather's management style, always advocating for the team, being fair and impartial, always with their door open and available to the team. She keeps our team on the same page with effective communication skills, timely team meetings, and sets expectations that are real, achievable, and measurable. We recognize her tireless efforts, unflinching dedication, and steadfast leadership skills.