Hillary Chickering, RN

It is my distinct honor and privilege to commend Hillary Chickering for the DAISY Nurse Educator Award. Hillary exemplifies the very best qualities of a nurse educator and consistently demonstrates the compassion, leadership, dedication, and commitment to excellence that this award was designed to recognize.

Hillary is one of the most compassionate educators I have had the pleasure of working with. She creates a welcoming, supportive, and psychologically safe learning environment where nurses feel valued, respected, and encouraged to grow. Her empathy and genuine concern for learners foster meaningful connections and help newly licensed nurses build confidence as they transition into professional practice. Hillary's approachable nature and unwavering support allow nurses to seek guidance without hesitation, knowing they will be met with understanding, encouragement, and constructive feedback.

As the lead Clinical Nurse Educator for Maine Medical Center Portland's Care Crew Academy, Hillary has demonstrated exceptional vision, leadership, and dedication. Care Crew Academy, a clinical immersion transition-to-practice program designed to support newly licensed nurses, was built from the ground up through Hillary's leadership and collaboration with fellow Clinical Nurse Educators.

What initially began on the medical-surgical units she supports has expanded across the entire medical-surgical service line due in large part to her passion, perseverance, and commitment to learner success.

Hillary possesses outstanding communication skills and is an exceptional listener. She actively seeks feedback from learners, leaders, and colleagues and uses that information to continually improve educational experiences. Whether facilitating meetings, teaching in the classroom, or coaching nurses at the bedside, she has a remarkable ability to communicate complex information clearly, concisely, and effectively. Her thoughtful approach ensures that learners understand expectations, achieve learning outcomes, and feel empowered throughout their educational journey.

One of Hillary's most impressive accomplishments was successfully leading the largest Care Crew Academy cohort in Summer 2025, supporting 93 newly licensed nurses through their transition into practice. She serves as the primary organizer and planner for the program, coordinating meetings, revising educational content, evaluating program outcomes, and integrating feedback to ensure continuous improvement. Her adaptability and flexibility have been essential to the program's growth and success. Hillary readily embraces change, modifies teaching strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners, and consistently seeks innovative ways to enhance the learning experience.

Hillary is also a dedicated mentor and role model who leads by example. With nearly 18 years of nursing experience and seven years as a Clinical Nurse Educator, she has positively influenced countless nurses throughout Maine Medical Center. She actively nurtures leadership qualities in others and encourages professional growth among learners, preceptors, and fellow educators. Her mentorship extends beyond the units she supports and throughout the education department.

Personally, Hillary has served as a mentor and role model for me, providing guidance, encouragement, and inspiration as I have grown in my own educator role. If there is any educator I aspire to be, Hillary is that example.

Her commitment to lifelong learning and professional development is evident in everything she does. Hillary continually seeks opportunities to advance nursing education and share best practices. She expanded the impact of Care Crew Academy beyond our organization by presenting the program alongside colleagues at the Saint Anselm College Nurse Educator Conference in May 2025. This presentation demonstrated not only the success of the program but also Hillary's passion for advancing the profession of nursing education through collaboration and scholarship.

Hillary consistently establishes clear learning expectations, develops meaningful educational experiences, and provides thoughtful, actionable feedback that promotes learner growth. She holds high standards while simultaneously creating an environment where learners feel supported and empowered to succeed. Her ability to balance accountability with encouragement is one of the many reasons she is so highly respected by both learners and colleagues.

Perhaps one of Hillary's greatest strengths is her ability to build collaborative working relationships. She brings together educators, nurse leaders, preceptors, and frontline staff to create successful educational initiatives that improve the experience of newly licensed nurses and strengthen our organization. Her collaborative spirit, professionalism, and positivity inspire those around her and contribute significantly to a culture of learning and excellence.

Hillary embodies every criterion of the DAISY Nurse Educator Award through her compassion, communication, mentorship, adaptability, commitment to lifelong learning, dedication to learner success, and ability to foster collaborative relationships. Her influence extends far beyond the classroom and the units she supports. She has transformed the experience of newly licensed nurses, strengthened the nursing workforce, and inspired countless colleagues through her leadership and example.

I am incredibly proud to work alongside Hillary and witness the extraordinary impact she has made on nursing education. She is truly deserving of this recognition, and I can think of no better candidate for the DAISY Nurse Educator Award.