Holly is the backbone of our interdisciplinary rehab team. Her role can be difficult to define because she contributes in so many ways—supporting our daily operations, guiding long-term planning, and everything in between. She represents nursing in a leadership capacity, steps in to help on the floor when needed, bridges communication across disciplines, supports regulatory compliance and documentation, and strengthens both our internal culture and external presence—and that’s only the beginning. As a clinical OT, I’m not privy to everything Holly does behind the scenes, but I have witnessed many examples of her contributions and qualities firsthand.

Holly has been a member of the rehab safety committee since its inception in 2015, consistently providing invaluable input and often taking the lead in rolling out new initiatives. She collaborated with the manufacturer of our chair alarm cords to create longer cords, giving patients more freedom to move around their rooms while staying safe. She is currently working on improving compliance and communication with timed voids to enhance patient independence with continence.

I would label Holly as our lead culture representative. She learns the names of all employees in the unit and addresses them by name. She takes the time to learn and follow up on personal information, making people feel seen and understood. She is the #1 writer of our superstar cards by a mile, not only giving recognition verbally but consistently writing down her praises to acknowledge jobs well done. She frequently catches errors in procedures or documentation, and when she addresses them, she does so with patience, grace, and humility. Holly also founded and, until recently, chaired our social committee, planning events, recognizing achievements, and creating opportunities for staff to connect personally. Being around Holly is a reminder that not only are our patients and their families important, but that each employee on the unit has their own story and deserves to be seen.

At her core, Holly is an exceptional nurse. As a certified rehab nurse, she brings expert knowledge to her role and is a trusted resource for our nursing team. When questions arise, she often goes the extra mile, researching best practices or reaching out across the health system for policy clarification and development. For 15 years at the health system, she has been taking our rehab unit and the nursing profession to a higher level.

This year is particularly special and suited for her recognition. The rehab unit was awarded the certification of an accredited rehabilitation facility (CARF) designation, which includes meeting 1,700 standards. Holly was at the helm of the preparation for this certification. She and our rehab manager painstakingly reviewed the standards, developed new processes, documented compliance, and worked directly with CARF surveyors. The unit passed with flying colors and received a recommendation to quickly apply for specialty certifications. The surveyors noted, “TUKHS was the most organized and prepared facility we have ever seen for a first-time survey.”

In summary, Holly is an exemplary nurse, leader, and teammate. She is detail-oriented yet visionary, deeply compassionate, and wholly dedicated to her patients, colleagues, and the nursing profession. She pours her heart into her work and into recognizing others, and it is my hope that through this award, she will finally be recognized herself.