Barb is a dedicated professional who exemplifies the role of patient and staff advocate, collaborator, and process improvement specialist.
Role modeling extraordinary behavior:
Nursing is Barb's passion. Barb started at Swedes as a PCT over 30 years ago and continued her education to become an RN. She then spent time as a nurse educator before moving into the role of Operational Supervisor. She was at the forefront of the unit's work to obtain and maintain the designation of a Total Joint Center. Barb is 100% dedicated to her staff and patients and even worked 18 days in a row during the Health Link conversion, often coming in very early in the morning and returning at night to check in on the unit.
Creating an environment where attributes of trust, compassion, mutual respect, continued professional development and ethical behavior are modeled and supported:
Barb is a "work mom", a confidant, the biggest motivator, and an incredible leader. She is able to walk the tightrope between being tough when necessary, but still being compassionate and empathetic for what is happening in all of the lives around her. Staff often say "WWBD" -What would Barb do?
Barb welcomes new staff and physicians to the unit with open arms and ensures they are comfortable on the floor and have a sense of the workflow. Barb's office door is always open, and she encourages staff to come to her with concerns or ideas for the unit.
Barb is the biggest cheerleader when it comes to continuing education and adjusts schedules so that staff is able to achieve their educational goals. Barb creates a sense of comfort and trust, and the staff knows they can go to her with questions. She is a wealth of knowledge and is always willing to share what she knows.
Motivates staff with a shared vision and enthusiasm to achieve better outcomes for themselves and for their patients:
Barb often motivates staff by asking them to imagine if she were the patient or if that patient were a family member. When a patient is in trouble, Barb will stay late and make sure they are stable before she goes home.
Barb does a phenomenal job of keeping staff up to date with goals of the organization and works hard to achieve those goals.
Barb is the first to commend a job well done. During huddles, Barb will read star cards out loud and has been known to get choked up because she is so proud of her unit. She keeps a candy jar in her office with an endless amount of smarties, tootsie rolls, and breath mints and will even buy treats for the unit with her own money on exceptionally busy days.
Promotes and enhances the image of nursing within the organization, the community, and the profession:
Barb helps coordinate an "adopt a family" Christmas drive each year. She shares the family's wish list, collects the donations, and delivers "Christmas" to the family in need. She also encouraged staff to participate in a Band-aid drive for a children's hospital. The drive was organized by a pediatric cancer survivor and this particular drive ended up being the most successful Band-aid drive yet.
Barb makes the 10th floor feel more like a community than a workplace. She cares for her staff in their times of need. Recently, she encouraged staff that was able to donate PTO to do so to help take care of our own Swedes family member in need.