During manager rounds one day, I was visiting with a family member of a very ill patient in the intensive care unit. At one point during our conversation, the patient’s spouse told me how proud I should be to have a wonderful employee like Hannah. The patient’s spouse told me even though her husband was critically ill, and she was afraid he may not make it, she was relieved to know that he was in good hands with Hannah. Hannah had the most sincere tone in her voice and a beautiful smile which gave her comfort she needed; the patient’s spouse told me. The spouse even commented to me, “Hannah has helped to make my very stressful situation less stressful.”

Hannah is one of our permanent charge nurses for our medical/surgical intensive care unit. Among many critically ill patients that go to 7West ICU, this unit is the designated stroke unit. In preparation for the stroke joint commission survey, we found Hannah gathering the nurses around, quizzing them on key information, having them recite the stoke core measures. She was cheering them on, encouraging the nurses, and reassuring each of them how great they would do during the survey.

Hannah is a breath of fresh air. She instills positivity, creativity, sensitivity, spirituality, and upmost quality in the nursing care she provides, and the leadership role she performs. She leads by example, exemplifying the ultimate team player, not only in the hospital but also through community service as well. Her involvement includes unit based and hospital wide quality improvement committees, as well as the clinical ladder program. Our motto at UT Southwestern is, “the future of medicine today”. Hannah is our modern day Florence Nightingale!