Shannon has been with MRMC for almost a year and a half, and the impact she has made in the Emergency Department is profound. Very quickly after joining our team, Shannon used her astute observation and assessment skills to begin to make changes. Within 2 months of leading this team, the processes that Shannon started to put in place led to our LWBS raw number decreasing from 127 people to 31 people on average, and our LWBS before triage patients decreasing from 30 to 9. In comparison, in 2023, we had a total number of 1,147 patients leave without being seen (both before and after triage), and in 2024, that number decreased to 662. Shannon did not do this alone. She listened to her staff, physicians, leadership, patients, and families, and included them in decision-making along the way. She is the epitome of a servant leader. She does not hesitate to work alongside her team, role modeling the care that she expects from her team. She is extremely passionate about her role as a leader and a nurse. Shannon conveys a strong sense of advocacy for both her patient and her staff and inspires a shared vision. This year, because of her dedication to creating a healthy workplace environment, the ER Functional RN Vacancy Rate is only 3%, and agency utilization has been reduced to only one RN to cover FMLA/Orientation/etc. Shannon consistently promotes and role models communication and collaboration with interprofessional partners in the planning and delivery of care, which has resulted in more efficient care delivery and overall improved patient outcomes.

Shannon’s commitment to staff development and ensuring her team has the knowledge to care for our patients led to the creation of several classes that she taught along with the ED Manager. Shannon created a triage class, a charge nurse class, and a “What it Means to Be an ER Nurse” for new-to-practice nurses. She also supported other team members as they created an ER PCT Boot Camp class and monthly ER education sessions facilitated by our ED providers, geared toward NTP RN’s but open to anyone. She holds her team accountable for their professional advancement and has grown participation on the Clinical Ladder from 13 RNs to 33 total RN’s this year. She wholeheartedly believes in Shared Governance and decision-making and uses input from direct care staff to improve the overall work environment and patient care.

She is committed to enhancing patient safety and fostering a culture of collaboration and shared accountability. This has led to falls in the ER decreasing by 26%, no CAUTI, CLABSI, or HAPUs attributed to the ER, and she operationalized the 8:15 huddle in the ED to include Patient Access, Laboratory, Radiology, EVS, Transport, and other disciplines as needed to set up the day to be as successful as possible. She has built beautiful relationships with her ancillary partners that are changing the way care is delivered in the ER. She is committed to patient safety first and foremost and places that at the center of her daily practice.

Shannon's unmatched commitment and compassion to her team are exceptional. The ER Team recently experienced several deaths that took a toll on the entire staff. After a particularly emotional pediatric code blue on the night shift, Shannon immediately arrived to support the team, contacted the kitchen for a comfort cart with snacks and beverages, arranged for day shift to come in and immediately assume patient care, contacted mission services, and gathered her team together in the CER to debrief this tragic situation, which was a first for many of our nurses. She beautifully facilitated a caring and compassionate discussion, allowing the team to be in whatever emotional space they were in, validated whatever feelings the team was feeling, and supported each team member in whatever way they needed for many days to come. Shannon leads with her heart each and every day. She has supported a newer team member during the loss of her child by going to her home, sharing her own personal experience, supporting her with her schedule, advocating for extended parental leave, and supporting her as she returned to work. This associate is now a patient care tech with a goal of becoming an RN.

Shannon is a natural leader who motivates and empowers others to deliver exceptional care. Her passion is contagious. She has worked to spread that passion to her team and others throughout the hospital. She is an outstanding leader who consistently demonstrates excellence in patient care, leadership, innovation, and teamwork.