I have known Barbara since I started working here in 1986. She was a great friend and mentor to my sister, who started at Seton around the same time as her. She was an awesome mentor to me as a nurse and as a leader. She always knew the right thing to say and the best way to advocate for nursing.
Barbara had her hands, and mind, in a little of everything....budgets, EP/Cath labs, cardiac unit, pulmonary unit, OBS unit, and the ED. When budgets got tight and our productivity numbers were cut, she advocated nonstop to get them brought up for her staff and the patients she served. Safety and a superior experience for both patients, and associates, have always been her top priorities.
Barbara always stayed current on a multitude of topics, reading magazines on management, cardiology, and EP/Cath lab, new procedures and how to manage a unit in the changing times of healthcare. She loved to learn and keep up with the newest innovations.
She is the definition of a servant leader. She made herself available at all hours so that her staff felt supported and were comfortable offering their opinions and seeking out her advice. She participated in patient rounding and I believe that her favorite part of the day was speaking with patients and their families to find out how we could improve their experience.
She mentored many generations of nurses in the finer points of service, compassion, integrity, and dedication. She was a calm, positive influence during recent changes in how healthcare is delivered. Barbara has a way of speaking that is positive and constructive and loving even when delivering tough messages.
Through her selfless 41 years of nursing, Barbara will continue to impact nursing at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin for years to come.