Pamela is intelligent and compassionate in both her nursing and management. She sacrifices her free time so that our office never has to work short-staffed. She is an amazing resource, offering her years of knowledge in a way that never makes you feel shame for not knowing something. She never expects us to do something that she does not do herself. I have worked at our office and with her for ten years, and I can honestly say I have never heard anyone say anything bad about her. We all have such respect for her that no one even considers it. When I am orienting new hires, I list her as being one of the greatest things about Hudson Bridge Urgent Care.

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Pamela has been with Children's Urgent Care for the past 28 years, and I have had the pleasure of working with her for the past year. She is the best ANM I have ever encountered. She cares so much about the patients and her staff alike, and never allows them to work short, even if it means she has to work on the floor numerous days in a row. Her staff respect and love her so much, and I've never heard nurses or MAs talk so positively about a manager in my entire career as a nurse or as an educator.

Recently, on a weekend, there were plumbing issues at Hudson Bridge Urgent Care. Staff were sent home, urgent care was closed, and then they were all asked to come back in. However, upon arriving, the water was still not working. They were asked to stay to determine whether or not they would reopen, and ultimately did not. Multiple of these people drove back and forth twice and were very frustrated with how the situation went. To support her staff, Pamela drove one hour from home on her day off just to be present for them and show how much she respects her staff and their time. She also worked hard to ensure they received compensation for the time spent driving back and forth. Both of these actions were unnecessary, but they are a few examples of how she goes above and beyond every single day for her nurses and MAs.

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Pamela is an example of what a true nurse leader should look like. A definition that stands out to me when thinking about her is “a person who influences and inspires others to work together toward a shared goal while fostering an environment of growth and trust.” She has a very long history with CHOA, and we are so lucky to have her as our ANM at Hudson Bridge Urgent Care. She is the biggest team player I know. She isn’t the type to sit in her office. Instead, you will find her every morning opening the doors for our patients with a smile on her face and also helping out with screening until the morning chaos has settled. Anytime she sees how busy the unit is, she comes and jumps in without any complaint. The families, patients, and staff adore her! This is just one of the many examples of how she leads by example.

Pamela also encourages and develops others. She is always checking in and assisting staff with professional development and growth. She sits down and helps staff members work on maintaining and increasing their clinical ladder. When I started working here as a new employee, she sat down with me and helped me navigate the clinical ladder and explained how I could maintain my level over the next year. She presented me with options of different committees I could join, helped train me to be the lead nurse, and found different tasks I could do, like stocking medication, to earn points. She really cares about her team and wants the best for everyone.

Pamela is also a wonderful communicator. She is always sending out group emails/texts so we are all on the same page. She also checks in frequently, in person, with her staff. Even after she goes home, I know she is just a phone call away in case we need anything emergent while we are still open. She is approachable and also a good listener. I feel comfortable going to her regarding any situation that may arise. She always seems to maintain a positive outlook when challenges arise and instead of seeing barriers she remains calm and finds a way to overcome them.

In this nomination, I have included a statement from our team speaking highly of her:

“She consistently provides compassion, kindness, and empathy, not only towards her staff but also towards her patients. She exudes leadership qualities that foster an environment of collaboration, accountability, and welcoming behavior. She leads by example and has always encouraged me to be the best version of myself possible. She is the true definition of a leader, and it is a privilege to work beside her every day!”

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Pamela is truly a remarkable leader. In the decade I've known her at Hudson Bridge, she has shown a quiet strength that makes her stand out, even in a facility that's one of the busiest urgent cares in our system. Hudson Bridge often feels like an ER, especially during those intense respiratory surges, but she never flinches; she steps up every single time.

This nurse leader didn't chase a leadership role, but when our manager left, she was exactly what we needed. Her servant leadership style sets an example for all of us. She's never asked anything of the staff that she wouldn't do herself, whether it's tackling a tough shift or leading a new process improvement. She is the reason our team feels seen and heard, even when our patient numbers are triple the national average. She acts as our advocate, making sure those in upper leadership understand what it takes to work at the southernmost Children's location.

She's the heartbeat of our team-celebrating wins, recognizing when someone goes above and beyond, and always encouraging us with her optimistic vision for patient care. Her accessibility is unmatched: if we need her, she's there, and she always makes time to listen and respond thoughtfully. She pushes us all to grow, helping newer nurses develop their skills and supporting professional development for everyone.

Pamela has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to our facility and team. For instance, a few weeks ago, when our water was out, she drove in without a thought to support staff when we reopened, even though she wasn't scheduled, to address any issues and support staff concerns. I have personally witnessed her coming in on her days off to respond to emergencies, weather emergencies, including electricity outages, water disruptions, toxic cloud smells from the plumbing, electrical fire scares, floods, and almost every imaginable urgent care facility and operations crisis.

She supports nurses and MAs' continuing education, pinning a medical assistant at her pinning ceremony, working with school schedules, and encouraging professional growth.

She never allows the team to work short-staffed, even if it means working seven days a week herself. She will step in whenever coverage is needed. Her compassion is profound; she is the first to reach out to staff facing hospitalization, personal loss, or family emergencies, such as births, miscarriages, cancer, and treats every member as part of her extended family. Her kindness extends to thoughtful gestures, like bringing in her extraordinary homemade pound cake or waffles for breakfast on days when patient volumes and stress levels are at their highest, lifting everyone's spirits. They do not make bosses like my boss; we stay because of her.

She motivates us by being both authentic and transparent, holding us accountable while always backing us up. Her steady presence has guided us through constant change, and her willingness to invest in our growth lifts the whole unit. She's the kind of leader who promotes not just the image of nursing inside our organization, but within the community as well. Hudson Bridge would not be the place it is without her.

For all these reasons, and many more, I wholeheartedly recommend her for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Her leadership, advocacy, and compassion have made a lasting impact not only on our team but on hundreds of patients and families who rely on us every day.

Note: This is Pamela's 2nd DAISY Award!