Colleen Gonzalez
September 2025
Colleen
Gonzalez
,
RN, DNP, NE-BC
Lunder 7
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston
,
MA
United States
Colleen's dedication to well-being extends beyond patient care to encompass the health and safety of her colleagues.
It is with great pleasure and admiration that I recommend Colleen Gonzalez, DNP, RN, NE-BC, for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. In her role as Nursing Director of General Medicine on White 8 at Massachusetts General Hospital, Colleen exemplifies the values this award represents through her extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to enhancing patient care and supporting the nursing profession.
Role Modeling: Colleen's leadership is defined by her exceptional ability to foster multidisciplinary collaboration. She consistently engages with professionals across various fields, from interventional cardiology to neurosurgery, to ensure that patient care is both comprehensive and coordinated. Her work on the Delirium Steering Committee and the Safety Flag Committee showcases her skill in bringing together diverse teams to tackle complex challenges, improving both patient outcomes and staff safety.
Visibility and Presence: Colleen embodies the spirit of advocacy and leadership presence with her relentless efforts to represent the needs of patients and staff. Her role in piloting the Aggressive Behavior Risk Assessment Tool (ABRAT) and her leadership in safety initiatives underscore her commitment to advocating for better tools and practices to enhance safety and care. Additionally, her proactive work in developing guidelines for delirium management reflects her dedication to advancing patient care through evidence-based practices and advocacy for necessary changes.
Empowerment: Empowering others is a cornerstone of Colleen's leadership approach. She has consistently created an environment that encourages initiative and professional growth among her staff. By mentoring new hires, clinical nurse specialists, and advanced practice nurses, she has cultivated a culture of continuous learning and confidence. Her dedication to training staff in new areas, such as oncology and cardiac care, demonstrates her commitment to developing the skills and capabilities of her team.
Passion for Excellence: Colleen's commitment to excellence and inclusiveness is evident in her efforts to create an equitable and welcoming environment for all team members. She actively seeks and respects diverse perspectives, fostering a culture where everyone feels valued and included. Her leadership in managing culturally sensitive care and ensuring access to translation services highlights her dedication to inclusivity and respect for diversity in patient care.
Colleen's dedication to well-being extends beyond patient care to encompass the health and safety of her colleagues. Her initiatives to support staff well-being, such as during the transition to an all-COVID unit and the implementation of protocols for emerging health threats like monkeypox, demonstrate her comprehensive approach to maintaining a safe and supportive work environment. Her advocacy for work-life balance and mental health support underscores her understanding of the link between team well-being and high-quality patient care.
Role Modeling: Colleen's leadership is defined by her exceptional ability to foster multidisciplinary collaboration. She consistently engages with professionals across various fields, from interventional cardiology to neurosurgery, to ensure that patient care is both comprehensive and coordinated. Her work on the Delirium Steering Committee and the Safety Flag Committee showcases her skill in bringing together diverse teams to tackle complex challenges, improving both patient outcomes and staff safety.
Visibility and Presence: Colleen embodies the spirit of advocacy and leadership presence with her relentless efforts to represent the needs of patients and staff. Her role in piloting the Aggressive Behavior Risk Assessment Tool (ABRAT) and her leadership in safety initiatives underscore her commitment to advocating for better tools and practices to enhance safety and care. Additionally, her proactive work in developing guidelines for delirium management reflects her dedication to advancing patient care through evidence-based practices and advocacy for necessary changes.
Empowerment: Empowering others is a cornerstone of Colleen's leadership approach. She has consistently created an environment that encourages initiative and professional growth among her staff. By mentoring new hires, clinical nurse specialists, and advanced practice nurses, she has cultivated a culture of continuous learning and confidence. Her dedication to training staff in new areas, such as oncology and cardiac care, demonstrates her commitment to developing the skills and capabilities of her team.
Passion for Excellence: Colleen's commitment to excellence and inclusiveness is evident in her efforts to create an equitable and welcoming environment for all team members. She actively seeks and respects diverse perspectives, fostering a culture where everyone feels valued and included. Her leadership in managing culturally sensitive care and ensuring access to translation services highlights her dedication to inclusivity and respect for diversity in patient care.
Colleen's dedication to well-being extends beyond patient care to encompass the health and safety of her colleagues. Her initiatives to support staff well-being, such as during the transition to an all-COVID unit and the implementation of protocols for emerging health threats like monkeypox, demonstrate her comprehensive approach to maintaining a safe and supportive work environment. Her advocacy for work-life balance and mental health support underscores her understanding of the link between team well-being and high-quality patient care.