I would like to nominate Ashley Jones, Manager of the ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic in Kinston for the prestigious DAISY Nurse Leader award. Ashley serves as a Nurse Leader in a clinic operations role. She works hard to create an environment of harmony and is a Super User of Nurse Leaders. Her most significant contribution is role modeling her expectations of her team. Most recently, she stepped in to fill administrative secretary vacancies, assisting with patient workflow to prevent delays in patients seeing their providers. On some of our colder days, you would see her assisting the front desk with check-ins, so patients could enter the building as soon as possible.

One thing Ashley is very, very good at is thinking ahead for what will be the best outcomes for the patients and her team. Examples include creating temporary workflows for building renovations or cross-training nurses and team members so we are all better prepared in unexpected situations. Ashley also excels due to possessing a lot of tools in her tool belt. She often assists in the nurses’ role or medical assistant’s role to keep patient visits moving smoothly and efficiently whether it’s for a routine checkup or a medical emergency. Recently, a patient became symptomatic with a critically low blood pressure, and she was able to assist her team to get the patient stabilized for hospital transport. Honestly, she can switch gears in a quick minute and she would never keep walking down the hall or dart to her office….she is always available to lend a hand, time, critical thinking…you name it…

Safety is a priority to Ashley, for the patients and team members. Not too long ago, we had an upset patient; actually, an angry patient who demanded attention in the waiting room. The patient’s behavior was unsettling to other patients and our team members. Every time Ashley spoke with the patient, she was calm, focused, and worked diligently to not only deescalate the patient’s behavior but also reassure safety for her team as she assisted to stabilize the situation. She was incredible! You just might see her with a toilet plunger on occasions and wiping floors…how many Nursing Leaders do you see working in this capacity?

This RN leader motivates team members to become engaged in more than checking boxes…she truly wants all of us to work to the fullest of our potential, learn from others, and own the responsibility to teach others. She recognizes we all have a responsibility to improve patient outcomes, and she strives to improve communication and workplace harmony. Ashley excels in communicating clearly her expectations and offers herself up to the team or for individual conversations. She communicates the good, offers praise with shout-outs, and has a way of delivering even the very hard messages as easily as possible.

Lastly, Ashley’s efforts are more than 100% for our clinic, team members, and patients. She is present, both in the moment and behind the scenes….always working, thinking, devising a plan, and working top shelf in action. Ashley represents the Nursing profession well and is quite deserving of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award.