Melissa Jocelyn
July 2025
Melissa
Jocelyn
,
RN, MSN, NE-BC
Ellison 12
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston
,
MA
United States
Melissa Jocelyn is more than a nurse leader - she is a builder of leaders. Her impact goes far beyond the walls of Ellison 12; it echoes in every nurse she's empowered, every opportunity she's created, and every life she's changed.
There is no one more deserving of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award than Melissa Jocelyn, my current nursing director, mentor, and true inspiration. In a profession that demands extraordinary resilience, compassion, and leadership, Melissa stands out not only for her excellence but for the way she consistently empowers her staff to rise, evolve, and lead - especially those from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds, like myself.
Melissa's leadership on Ellison 12 is rooted in the belief that great nurses are grown, not born - and she cultivates us daily. She sees potential long before we do and invests in that potential with unwavering dedication. Her philosophy of empowerment is not just spoken; it is lived through her actions. Whether it's a timely email with professional development opportunities, a nudge to apply for a scholarship, or a pre-written recommendation letter - Melissa is already one step ahead, always preparing us for the next level of growth.
Over the past 10 years working with Melissa, I've witnessed how she actively creates space for nurses to take ownership of clinical and operational decisions. She encourages us to lead initiatives, serve on committees, and step into roles that challenge us to stretch beyond our comfort zones. This trust and empowerment have shaped our unit culture into one of shared leadership, accountability, and professional ambition.
Melissa has a unique gift: she makes people feel capable. When I expressed my dream of pursuing healthcare leadership, she not only supported me - she became my champion. Because of her mentorship, I went back to school for my master's in nursing leadership, completed a leadership fellowship, and was recognized as a clinical scholar. I am just one of many on Ellison 12 whose lives and careers have been transformed by her encouragement.
Her commitment to developing others is even more profound given her personal challenges. Melissa recently shared with us her ALS diagnosis - a diagnosis she carried privately for nearly two years. Despite the emotional and physical toll, she remains the heartbeat of our unit. Her presence, her wisdom, and her commitment have not wavered. In fact, she has only deepened her efforts to empower us - to take on projects that align with our passions, to reach higher, and to realize the potential she so clearly sees in each of us.
As a nurse from a minority and disadvantaged background, I am especially grateful for Melissa's intentional focus on inclusivity and equity. She understands the unique barriers that nurses like me face, and she works tirelessly to remove them. She gives voice to those who are often unheard, and she champions our success as if it were her own. Through her, I have found not only a mentor, but a mirror of the kind of leader I hope to become. Melissa Jocelyn is more than a nurse leader - she is a builder of leaders. Her impact goes far beyond the walls of Ellison 12; it echoes in every nurse she's empowered, every opportunity she's created, and every life she's changed. I can think of no one more deserving of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award than her.
***
Melissa Jocelyn is a leader I have been inspired by for many years. She is poised, measured, and carefully chooses her moments to speak up in wider meetings in order to advocate for nurses at the bedside and nurse leaders alike. Melissa has a strong ethical core and lives up to it in her practice as a nurse director and mentor to both bedside nurses and other nurse leaders. Her unit is strong, and the nurses, PCAs, USAs, OAs, and medical team work together and support one another, all with the focus of taking the best care of patients possible.
She has inspired and mentored many leaders, both at the bedside and within nursing leadership. Melissa is incredibly generous with her time and knowledge and shares herself in a very authentic way. When speaking with her, you know that you are always getting a straight answer. She shares her knowledge, and if she doesn't know the answer, she will tell you and help you find it. Melissa has a great sense of humor and a warm approach to those around her. She is welcoming toward all those who seek out her help. Melissa is now facing a very serious medical diagnosis herself, and yet, that has not stopped her from leading her team and advocating for nursing at every opportunity. I cannot imagine how challenging it must be to continue with her work, given what she is facing.
The fact that Melissa is still leading Ellison 12 is testimony to the value she places on her work and the team that she is leading, and she is doing an amazing job at this in spite of many obstacles. I cannot think of a Nurse Director more deserving of this DAISY Award than Melissa Jocelyn.
Melissa's leadership on Ellison 12 is rooted in the belief that great nurses are grown, not born - and she cultivates us daily. She sees potential long before we do and invests in that potential with unwavering dedication. Her philosophy of empowerment is not just spoken; it is lived through her actions. Whether it's a timely email with professional development opportunities, a nudge to apply for a scholarship, or a pre-written recommendation letter - Melissa is already one step ahead, always preparing us for the next level of growth.
Over the past 10 years working with Melissa, I've witnessed how she actively creates space for nurses to take ownership of clinical and operational decisions. She encourages us to lead initiatives, serve on committees, and step into roles that challenge us to stretch beyond our comfort zones. This trust and empowerment have shaped our unit culture into one of shared leadership, accountability, and professional ambition.
Melissa has a unique gift: she makes people feel capable. When I expressed my dream of pursuing healthcare leadership, she not only supported me - she became my champion. Because of her mentorship, I went back to school for my master's in nursing leadership, completed a leadership fellowship, and was recognized as a clinical scholar. I am just one of many on Ellison 12 whose lives and careers have been transformed by her encouragement.
Her commitment to developing others is even more profound given her personal challenges. Melissa recently shared with us her ALS diagnosis - a diagnosis she carried privately for nearly two years. Despite the emotional and physical toll, she remains the heartbeat of our unit. Her presence, her wisdom, and her commitment have not wavered. In fact, she has only deepened her efforts to empower us - to take on projects that align with our passions, to reach higher, and to realize the potential she so clearly sees in each of us.
As a nurse from a minority and disadvantaged background, I am especially grateful for Melissa's intentional focus on inclusivity and equity. She understands the unique barriers that nurses like me face, and she works tirelessly to remove them. She gives voice to those who are often unheard, and she champions our success as if it were her own. Through her, I have found not only a mentor, but a mirror of the kind of leader I hope to become. Melissa Jocelyn is more than a nurse leader - she is a builder of leaders. Her impact goes far beyond the walls of Ellison 12; it echoes in every nurse she's empowered, every opportunity she's created, and every life she's changed. I can think of no one more deserving of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award than her.
***
Melissa Jocelyn is a leader I have been inspired by for many years. She is poised, measured, and carefully chooses her moments to speak up in wider meetings in order to advocate for nurses at the bedside and nurse leaders alike. Melissa has a strong ethical core and lives up to it in her practice as a nurse director and mentor to both bedside nurses and other nurse leaders. Her unit is strong, and the nurses, PCAs, USAs, OAs, and medical team work together and support one another, all with the focus of taking the best care of patients possible.
She has inspired and mentored many leaders, both at the bedside and within nursing leadership. Melissa is incredibly generous with her time and knowledge and shares herself in a very authentic way. When speaking with her, you know that you are always getting a straight answer. She shares her knowledge, and if she doesn't know the answer, she will tell you and help you find it. Melissa has a great sense of humor and a warm approach to those around her. She is welcoming toward all those who seek out her help. Melissa is now facing a very serious medical diagnosis herself, and yet, that has not stopped her from leading her team and advocating for nursing at every opportunity. I cannot imagine how challenging it must be to continue with her work, given what she is facing.
The fact that Melissa is still leading Ellison 12 is testimony to the value she places on her work and the team that she is leading, and she is doing an amazing job at this in spite of many obstacles. I cannot think of a Nurse Director more deserving of this DAISY Award than Melissa Jocelyn.