Sarah reminds us that her passion is for bedside nursing but in the past 18+ months she has taken on the role of Clinical Resource Leader (CRL) with so much heart. Sarah’s strengths-based approach translates to a team that feels psychologically safe to approach her for guidance, with a question, or for help in problem-solving a complex clinical or non-clinical issue, including us as the nominators. Her ability to prioritize including time for unplanned coaching conversations or brainstorming are things the SODR nursing team and the inpatient operational team have commented on over and over.

She is the type of leader that is willing to take risks such as having the courage to speak up and present different ideas or solutions to complex issues we face in the hospital. Simultaneously, she is very thoughtful of both the short-term and long-term impacts her decisions will make and always keeps her team’s best interests in mind. Examples of this include clinical Rounds; new nursing master schedules; hiring new staff and the list goes on.

In 2019, Sarah has supported at least 5 new nursing leaders not to mention other health disciplines she has welcomed onto the SODR team. More specifically, she was one of the first CRLs to co-create and deliver a structured training workshop for new team leaders (TLs). In addition, Sarah has been invaluable with the onboarding of the interim operations manager on SODR, different physicians, and other formal and informal leaders in 2019.

Sarah is able to mobilize people and teams in remarkable and proactive ways. For example, she was the pioneer of the innovative idea to have Solution Focused Coaching (SFC) sessions on the unit for nurses which have been highly regarded by nurses who are newer to the profession. SFC is also an example of how her nursing leadership creates a work environment across the hospital that promotes nurses’ health and facilitates their development in areas such as resilience and compassion.

Furthermore, as a proactive thinker, she ensures the nursing 3-Factor Framework is used when developing patient assignments and organizing client care. Sarah epitomizes providing compassionate care to clients/families in each and every interaction that she has. Her approach is calm, patient, collaborative, and respectful. She ensures she is aware of psycho-social concerns of both incoming admissions and current clients such as real-time education of staff or the need for psychology services, to ensure SODR provides safe care that meets the individual clients' needs taking into account the broader social determinants of health.

She is an admirable nurse leader in so many ways including her ability to recognize that leadership development is an ongoing journey and that asking others for assistance is a sign of courage/strength and excellence. Her compassion extends beyond the clients and families, to each and every individual she works with within the organization as well as with external partners. She will take the time to listen to others' perspectives and their challenging situations in order to provide appropriate support whether it is active listening or lending resources. She offers her support in such a humble and unassuming way/downplays it but her colleagues appreciate and recognize the power that her positive collaboration has, even when she sees it as “no big deal…I am just doing my job”. Sarah is an example to all of us of what a strong communicator is and also how important communication is in order to have a well-performing team. All the things we mentioned here are skills that can take a lifetime to develop and thus deserve recognition.