Amanda Palmer had worked as our Clinical Nurse Leader at the Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic Emergency Department prior to the onset of COVID, and graciously stepped into the role of interim nurse manager in May of 2020 after our prior NM departed. She then applied and formally took on the role of CSH ED Nurse Manager. Her time as the Clifton ED Nurse Manager has certainly been a trial by fire, assuming the position during the initial COVID surge and continuing to learn the position over the past two years.

One of the most significant challenges we have faced during the recent pandemic has been staffing. Amanda has employed a number of unique solutions to ensure we have adequate nursing resources to maintain a safe and functional department. Unfortunately, despite her best attempts, many of the staffing holes were filled by her personally, often sacrificing time with her family and children. Despite being new to her leadership role, Amanda has been an extremely effective leader whose personal dedication has helped hold our team together when we saw many other teams struggle. Beyond the new challenges that COVID has presented our nursing teams, Amanda has continued to hold her team to an exceptionally high standard. This is true regarding the care delivered to both our medical patients and the proportionally large volume of behavioral health patients we see at CSH.

Personally, she is extremely proficient from the clinical standpoint, and ensures that her team is capable of functioning at the same level. The behavioral health population specifically requires a substantial amount of specific management and documentation and the effort put forth by Amanda to ensure the team is keeping our patients safe while meeting all regulatory requirements is nothing short of extraordinary.

We are lucky to have a nurse manager as committed to the position as Amanda. It is nearly impossible to appropriately recognize her efforts. She is a true DAISY Nurse Leader.