Kendra D
Bailiff
May 2025
Kendra D
Bailiff
,
MSN, RN
MercyOne Des Moines
Des Moines
,
IA
United States
Kendra spent the first 10 years or so of her career making an impact with patients and families at the bedside. She consistently delivered excellent care, and her patients loved having her as their nurse.
Kendra is the clinical education specialist on the Mother-Baby Unit, and she is the epitome of hard work. Kendra's journey in nursing is one of perseverance. She pivoted from Child and Family Services in college to focus on nursing. She desired a career in Labor & Delivery but was offered a position as a new graduate RN on the Mother-Baby Unit (PS...it was such a God-thing as Mother-Baby is where she was meant to be!) She took a couple of attempts at nursing boards and humbly offers up that story to our new grads concerned about the test or struggling with a couple of attempts of their own. Kendra doesn't quit. Kendra spent the first 10 years or so of her career making an impact with patients and families at the bedside. She consistently delivered excellent care, and her patients loved having her as their nurse. Kendra then moved into a weekend supervisor position on the unit and excelled in that role as well.
In 2016, Kendra became the clinical resource nurse (educator) for the Mother-Baby Unit. Over the past nine years, Kendra has flourished in her role! I'd love to highlight a couple of big achievements, but please know Kendra's impact reaches far beyond my words.
Kendra has created such an amazing onboarding process for our new colleagues. She helps to provide a welcoming environment from the moment they accept the position through their first year of nursing practice, and beyond. Kendra works diligently to ensure the orientation schedule is coordinated with our new colleagues and works well for their schedule weeks in advance of their start date. She communicates with the MBU leadership team so we can all know when to expect our newest team members and extend our warmest welcome to them. She asks about their favorite things and then has a treat ready for them when they come in for their first shift "on their own." She also tracks their one-year anniversary and sends a Happy Anniversary email to each team member when they've celebrated their first year with MBU. Kendra ensures our newest team members feel welcome and valued every step of the way.
Kendra became a Respectful Maternity Care champion at MercyOne. She not only helped create the curriculum for this class, which is a requirement of all Maternal Child staff, but also teaches almost every class! She keeps the momentum going by reminding us all of our commitment to ensuring we provide respectful care to every patient, every time. After each class, participants are invited to sign a Commit Card, putting pen to paper behind their commitment to our patients. Now, we are beginning the process of recognizing our peers for outstanding acts of respect. Not only does this help us recognize the great work that is being done, but it also keeps the important and life-saving work of Respectful Maternity Care at the forefront of every interaction. Because of her ongoing dedication to this work, AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses) has asked her to present at the National Convention in Orlando this year! It is such an honor to be asked to present at a national convention, and I could not be prouder of Kendra for saying yes!
Finally, Kendra graduated with her Master's Degree in Nursing this past year! It's not easy balancing work, raising a family, and grad school, but Kendra persisted and achieved this goal that I know she never thought was possible. I am so proud of her for saying yes to challenges and believing in herself while achieving these big goals and dreams. Imagine the hope she inspires in those she leads! Kendra is such an amazing Clinical Education Specialist! In addition to her work on Mother-Baby, she is the chair of the Professional Recognition and Advancement Council and the DAISY coordinator for MercyOne. She is beyond deserving of this recognition!
In 2016, Kendra became the clinical resource nurse (educator) for the Mother-Baby Unit. Over the past nine years, Kendra has flourished in her role! I'd love to highlight a couple of big achievements, but please know Kendra's impact reaches far beyond my words.
Kendra has created such an amazing onboarding process for our new colleagues. She helps to provide a welcoming environment from the moment they accept the position through their first year of nursing practice, and beyond. Kendra works diligently to ensure the orientation schedule is coordinated with our new colleagues and works well for their schedule weeks in advance of their start date. She communicates with the MBU leadership team so we can all know when to expect our newest team members and extend our warmest welcome to them. She asks about their favorite things and then has a treat ready for them when they come in for their first shift "on their own." She also tracks their one-year anniversary and sends a Happy Anniversary email to each team member when they've celebrated their first year with MBU. Kendra ensures our newest team members feel welcome and valued every step of the way.
Kendra became a Respectful Maternity Care champion at MercyOne. She not only helped create the curriculum for this class, which is a requirement of all Maternal Child staff, but also teaches almost every class! She keeps the momentum going by reminding us all of our commitment to ensuring we provide respectful care to every patient, every time. After each class, participants are invited to sign a Commit Card, putting pen to paper behind their commitment to our patients. Now, we are beginning the process of recognizing our peers for outstanding acts of respect. Not only does this help us recognize the great work that is being done, but it also keeps the important and life-saving work of Respectful Maternity Care at the forefront of every interaction. Because of her ongoing dedication to this work, AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses) has asked her to present at the National Convention in Orlando this year! It is such an honor to be asked to present at a national convention, and I could not be prouder of Kendra for saying yes!
Finally, Kendra graduated with her Master's Degree in Nursing this past year! It's not easy balancing work, raising a family, and grad school, but Kendra persisted and achieved this goal that I know she never thought was possible. I am so proud of her for saying yes to challenges and believing in herself while achieving these big goals and dreams. Imagine the hope she inspires in those she leads! Kendra is such an amazing Clinical Education Specialist! In addition to her work on Mother-Baby, she is the chair of the Professional Recognition and Advancement Council and the DAISY coordinator for MercyOne. She is beyond deserving of this recognition!