Chrissy Wall demonstrates the attributes of a DAISY Nurse Leader every day. Chrissy has been the unit director in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit for four years. In that time, she has modeled the UPMC values in her everyday interactions with patients, families, staff, peers, and physicians. Chrissy is truly a visible and engaged leader. She is present for morning rounds with the physician leadership. She uses this as an opportunity to foster professional and collegial relationships with the physicians as well as knowing the patients and families in the ICU.
The nursing staff in the ICU know and appreciate Chrissy as a leader who listens and actively addresses their concerns. She follows up on issues and involves the appropriate leadership and interdisciplinary team members as needed. If a concern is real and relevant to a staff member, it is real and relevant to Chrissy as a nurse leader. She is always accessible to staff and truly exemplifies the values of empathy and caring. She takes the time to know staff members as individuals and makes each person feel valued for their contributions.
Chrissy is a leader who values and focuses on quality patient care. Her decisions are consistent and always with a focus on what is best for patients and families. If there is a best practice initiative that would benefit patients, Chrissy is supportive of doing what needs to be done to make it happen.
Examples include implementing unit-based skin rounds to identify patients who are at high risk for the development of pressure ulcers and implementing preventive measures. She has worked closely with members of the skin care team and the ICU staff to promote true collegial relationships that reflect respect and professionalism. She is an active participant of unit-based interdisciplinary rounds and involves families to give them an opportunity to address concerns. She is an active member of many units and hospital-based committees including CORE, RRT, Skin, ICU Quality and Critical Care team. She represents the CVICU and is respected and always a patient care advocate.
During Chrissy's time as a nurse leader in the CVICU, we have demonstrated consistent progress in the NDNQI results. In addition, under her leadership, the unit based Professional Practice Committee has grown not only in numbers but in their focus to truly advance the commitment of the team. The mission statement of the CVICU is reflective of the work and spirit of the team.
As a leader, Chrissy is an advocate for the professional development of her staff. She herself has modeled that doing school, working full time and having a young child is possible. She is about to complete her MSN program and has done so while balancing these commitments. Perhaps that is why staff believe they can do it when they see how Chrissy has juggled these for the last several years. She encourages staff to pursue certification and senior nurse status.
I personally consider Chrissy a true friend and trusted coworker. She is supportive of every initiative or crazy idea we put in place. Her response is always "Whatever you need. We will make it work." She is kind and genuine, truly compassionate and caring and a model of what a DAISY Leader is!