Many individuals seek leadership positions to serve their interests rather than those of others. The best leaders lead because they care about people, and those are the types of leaders like this Nurse Leader Awardee, Traci Fick. Traci is always willing to contribute to the community, regardless of the mission. When a fire broke out at a local senior high-rise, she immediately reported to the scene with blankets for the community. This is only one of the many stories that was shared, in the community, she is a member of the Rotary and is often sought out by members of the community, including the mayor, for public health advice.

One of her greatest attributes as a leader is her ability to encourage and empower all staff to take on leadership roles within the unit and throughout the hospital. She recognizes that empowering and offering recognition to staff is key to nursing satisfaction and retention. She always compliments, thanks, and gives praise to employees who contributed to the success of a project or had an idea on how best to improve patient care. This recognition motivates staff to work harder and achieve their goals.

She has a passion for creating a safe and meaningful work environment. She sees every member of the unit as valuable and consistently encourages staff to discuss ways in which we can improve. She remains very much involved in the practice at her units and occasionally works sporadic shifts to better get to know the staff. When the ED received a busload of accident victims, she worked closely alongside the staff, helping to guide them and ensure that all patients were well cared for. She is a true role model for exemplary practice and supports the organization in always maintaining an environment of quality care for our patients