Jeannie Tapp, RN

When the Rochester Hills employees transitioned under new management beginning in August 2025, it was a difficult time for many of us. Our department had already undergone significant change, including adjustments related to the Henry Ford merger. Moving under new leadership after so many changes created uncertainty and stress for many staff members.

Throughout this entire transition, Jeannie demonstrated incredible patience, kindness, and attentiveness. Her honesty, empathy, and understanding helped make what could have been an overwhelming process feel manageable and tolerable for our team.

Jeannie manages multiple sites, including River District, Waldenburg, Webber, VECC, and now Rochester Hills. She is also the manager of the Referral Coordinators. Despite having so many responsibilities and a full workload, she consistently makes time for her employees. Jeannie is always accessible and makes a genuine effort to check in with staff. One thing I know for certain is that Jeannie will show up in person to see how her staff is doing.

One moment that truly demonstrated Jeannie’s character involved an associate at Rochester Hills who was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with all of the recent changes. The associate had decided to resign and move on. When Jeannie learned about this, she personally came to the Rochester Hills site to wish the associate well and thank her for her hard work and dedication. She expressed her sincere appreciation and wished her the very best.

That visit meant more than Jeannie probably realized. The associate felt seen, heard, and truly valued. After meeting with Jeannie and feeling supported by her, the staff member decided to rescind her resignation and remain in the infusion department, giving herself more time to adjust to the changes.

Jeannie consistently demonstrates strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills in her daily leadership. During our daily staffing meetings, she proactively addresses potential challenges within the infusion clinic. These matters are thoughtfully discussed and reviewed in alignment with organizational policies, and when necessary, Jeannie collaborates with other departments to help finalize the best course of action.

Once decisions are made, Jeannie ensures clear communication by encouraging the charge nurses to share this important information during the daily morning huddles. This approach helps keep the entire team informed, prepared, and aligned, which ultimately supports safe and effective patient care.
Please share how this nursing leader demonstrates advocacy for their team.

Jeannie strongly supports staff advocacy and consistently encourages us to refer to established policies when questions or concerns arise. She reminds the team that if a policy is unclear, we should bring it to her attention so it can be reviewed and clarified.

Jeannie maintains an open-door approach, creating an environment where staff feel comfortable coming to her with any situation or concern. She also frequently reminds the team about the resources available to support staff and ensures we know we are not alone when facing challenges. Jeannie’s leadership helps empower staff to speak up, seek guidance, and feel supported in their roles.

Jeannie ensures that important information is communicated clearly and consistently with the team. She holds monthly staff meetings to provide updates and discuss key topics affecting the department. When there are frequent updates coming from senior leadership, Jeannie thoughtfully schedules smaller meetings so information can be shared in real time without overwhelming staff with too much information at once.

She also takes time to review and revisit important updates so they serve as reminders, ensuring that all team members stay informed, supported, and aligned with current expectations and changes.

I am grateful to work for a manager who truly cares about her staff and continuously strives to support everyone. Whenever Jeannie is onsite, she takes the time to walk around, speak with staff, and check in to see how everyone is doing.

Jeannie is also transparent and humble. She openly shares that she is not perfect, but she is always working to improve herself so she can be a better manager for her team. That honesty and dedication mean a lot to those of us who work with her.

Thank you, Jeannie, for all that you do—especially for your support, leadership, and the genuine care you show your staff every day.