I have been at Unity Point at Home for 20 years and have been a Physical Therapist for 30 years. I have had many supervisors over the years, so I have some perspective as to what makes a good supervisor. I feel that Gina Nelson is the best supervisor I have ever had.

Having a positive attitude and treating everybody with respect and kindness is not always easy when you are a supervisor. The challenges of introducing new policies or procedures that need to be implemented can be a huge burden because those changes can be stressful on employees. Gina has the ability to do all of those difficult things that managers have to do with humor and grace, and it has the effect of lifting and bolstering our team morale.

Although we work for a big company, we have a tight-knit team that feels like family. At the heart of every great team is a great leader. For our team, Gina is the glue that holds us together.

It was not until I got cancer that I realized how great Gina truly is. She was always in my corner, trying her best to keep my spirits up while managing the difficult situation of being one team member down. She was very helpful in assisting me with issues I had with disability and HR during my lengthy illness. No matter how busy she was with managing our team, she always made time to stay in touch with me.

The assistance and support she gave me when I was on leave, as well as her empathy and kindness, helped me greatly in my time of need. One of my goals for recovering from my cancer was to return to work. And one of the main reasons I wanted to return to work was to be back with my team and have Gina as my team leader.

She is a genuinely compassionate person who cares about all of her team members and tries her hardest to make our jobs easier. 

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Our community is a better place for all of us because of the exceptional leadership of Regina (Gina) Nelson. I wanted to nominate Gina because I see her working diligently to make my job and that of my coworkers easier, more enjoyable, and at the same time, with attention to efficiency on outcomes and meeting patients' needs.

As I considered her strengths of bringing people together in creative ways that build joy and optimism, I recognize that her time and effort in doing these things never take away from the main goal to provide for our patients. It seems that every year, healthcare brings a new level of challenge. She is able to bring a creative vision to these challenges. Her energy sparks others to engage and create new ways to meet patient needs in an ever-changing environment.

Our pod is a fun team to be a part of. It is Gina’s leadership that promotes that environment. Perhaps it is a silly icebreaker or a group photo to send to a coworker who is ill. Gina builds community and belonging through these seemingly small tasks.

Mother Theresa said, “Do small things with great love.” Small acts, like a personal card when my grandmother died, showed great love. Recalling that I had an interest in a specific treatment area and remembering it several months later when an opportunity arose is great leadership.

When employees feel valued, seen, and understood, this creates momentum to give that same gift in return to the very patients we treat. This is true leadership. It empowers others to do small things in the situations they are in to make the world better.

I see my supervisor, Gina, living that every day. I hear it in the compassion in her voice, often over the morning huddle. I feel it in her creative solutions when I feel stuck with a difficult patient. I experience it in the way she conducts a ride-along visit, engaging with the patient and family while managing up clinicians.

When Gina is present, there is a feeling of “we are all in this together, and it’s going to be ok.” Empowering others, whether employees or the people and families we serve, makes our community stronger, and that is what makes Regina Nelson extraordinary. 

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I am nominating Regina Nelson, RN, Clinical Supervisor, for the DAISY Leadership Award for the endless leadership and caring she displays to her clinicians and our patients. Gina leads her team with empathy and compassion.

Earlier this year, I experienced the horror of losing my first grandchild as a neonate while simultaneously experiencing health issues of my own, which included surgery and a longer-than-expected recovery. As a private person, sharing these things with a supervisor was challenging emotionally and mentally. Gina responded with so much caring and compassion that it literally brought tears to my eyes.

Not only did she encourage and allow flexibility in my schedule when needed, but she also gently asked how I was doing and if I needed additional support, even after the immediate crisis was over. Gina arranged for flowers to be sent to the service on behalf of the team and organization. She facilitated communication with the team regarding news and updates when I did not have the emotional energy or strength to do it myself.

She consistently encouraged work-life balance and self-care. Months later, Gina sent information on grieving events, showing her relentless ongoing support and, most importantly, remembrance. Her actions during this time made all the difference for me.

Knowing that your supervisor cares about you in this way enabled me to dig deep into my reserves to provide excellent care to my patients while I was experiencing my own deep pain and grief. She shows true concern for her clinicians that is not just role-related. She cares about us as people, and it makes all the difference.

Gina has demonstrated this with others on the team as well. For example, a team member experienced a very serious health condition and was off work for an extended period. Gina's care was obvious every time she, with permission, shared updates, celebrated important milestones of recovery, and organized support initiatives with the rest of the team, including PTO donation.

Gina shows dedication and care for her team on a daily basis. She is always willing to assist with role-related questions or help with tasks. She offers to do ride-alongs immediately if there is a safety or compliance concern, showing her support and care for her team. She is always quickly available, and there is never an issue for which she is unwilling to help.

She inspires her entire team to excellence in their professional roles. Meanwhile, Gina always remembers the humanity of her team, celebrating small wins or life events daily, and providing support when we are experiencing our own life challenges. Everyone on the team has expressed their deep respect for Gina because of her ability to garner excellence while maintaining a high level of compassion and care for each of us.

Home care can be a lonely role, as we are in patients' homes by ourselves, with no physical backup or possibility for assistance. Relationships with co-workers are very different from those in other settings, as we only see each other at meetings. It is easy to feel isolated and unsupported.

Knowing that Gina is always just a phone call away gives each of us peace of mind, and her genuine caring about us as individuals is a powerful spark that assists us in providing attentive and compassionate care to our patients.