Few nurses leave a legacy that shapes not only patient care, but the very culture of the teams and hospitals they serve. Julia Moon, RN is one of those rare nurses, and it is my honor to nominate her for the Facets of Nursing Award at OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital.

Julia has been a nurse at O’Bleness for over 30 years, and in that time she has guided the hospital, its nurses, and its patients through extraordinary periods of growth, challenge, and change. Her leadership, compassion, and commitment to nurses and patients alike represent the very best of the profession.

I first met Julia in 2013 when she interviewed me for my very first nursing job on the medical-surgical unit. At that point I had spent six months scrambling to find a position as a new nurse. Julia was one of the few people willing to give me a chance. That opportunity changed the trajectory of my career.

A few years later, Julia again supported my professional growth when she accepted my application to transfer into the ICU, a unit she manages along with the float pool. That ICU became more than a workplace—it became a family. Julia had cultivated something incredibly rare: a unit culture where nurses feel supported, valued, and genuinely happy to come to work. I know she cares deeply about each of us not only as nurses, but as people.

When I began in the ICU, I was an extremely anxious new critical care nurse. Julia gave me the reassurance and confidence to grow into the role. I remember texting or calling her in moments of panic over things that now seem small: “I gave an antibiotic six minutes late—will I get in trouble?” or “My patient’s IV is bleeding—will they be okay?” Julia responded with the calm, patient reassurance of a mentor—and often the warmth of a mother. She helped me develop the confidence every nurse needs to thrive in critical care.

Julia’s leadership has also guided our hospital through tremendous operational change. During my time working with her, she oversaw the transition from paper charting to electronic medical records—first with Paragon in 2014, and later the transition to CareConnect in 2018. That same year, she played a key role in overseeing the opening of a brand-new, multi-million-dollar ICU. Julia made sure the voices of bedside nurses were included in the process, inviting staff to participate in mock-up tours and discussions about the layout and design of the new unit. She balanced budgets, navigated unexpected challenges (including a rogue Hoyer lift that managed to damage half the nurses’ station), and ensured the transition happened smoothly.

Then came COVID-19.

Before the worst of the pandemic reached our community, Julia demonstrated remarkable foresight by organizing proning drills so ICU staff would be prepared to safely place ventilated patients in the prone position. When the surge arrived, we cared for unprecedented numbers of critically ill patients. The skills we practiced in those drills helped save lives.

Throughout the pandemic, Julia did not lead from afar. She showed up. She supported us in person through some of the most difficult days of our careers. On mornings when we weren’t sure if all of our patients would survive, she gathered us together and led us in prayer.

What made this especially meaningful was the way she approached it—with humility and respect for everyone on the team. Julia was never pushy about her faith, and participation was never expected. Instead, she simply offered a quiet moment of reflection and strength for anyone who needed it. In a time filled with uncertainty, grief, and exhaustion, those moments reminded us that we were not alone in the work we were doing.

Julia has always taken a deeply personal interest in the people she leads. She was among the first to know about many milestones in my personal life. When I struggled after becoming a new mother, she was someone I trusted enough to confide in. She has supported countless nurses through similar moments in life—celebrating our joys and helping us navigate our challenges - be it illness, domestic issues, financial hardships, or mental health.

Nursing has long carried the reputation of “nurses eating their young.” I feel certain Julia encountered that culture earlier in her career, but she chose to build something different. Instead of perpetuating that cycle, she created an environment rooted in mentorship, respect, and growth. Because of Julia, nurses feel safe learning, asking questions, and becoming better clinicians.

As Julia approaches (but we're not there yet!) retirement after an extraordinary career, it feels like an appropriate time to finally submit this nomination. I hope she knows that the impact of her work reaches far beyond the patients whose lives she has touched at the bedside. It lives on in the countless nurses she has mentored, encouraged, and believed in. Every nurse who gained confidence because of her guidance, every patient cared for by those nurses, and every moment of compassion passed forward is part of the culture she created.

For her leadership, her compassion, and her unwavering dedication to both patients and nurses, I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award.