I am honored to recognize Rylee Mares for her exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to patient-centered care. She has consistently demonstrated qualities that inspire her team and elevate the standard of care.

Leadership and Accountability:
This nurse sets the tone for excellence by holding the team accountable in a supportive and constructive manner. She conducts meaningful conversations with staff, ensuring clarity of expectations and fostering a culture of ownership. Her ability to balance empathy with accountability has strengthened team cohesion and improved performance.

Flexibility and Dedication:
Her flexibility is remarkable—despite working five consecutive days. She volunteered to cover a night shift when no charge nurse was available, ensuring continuity of leadership and patient safety. She also trained and oriented as a relief House Supervisor.  Even with limited access as a relief house supervisor and competing priorities, she worked as a house supervisor with a smile and desire to help coordinate ED throughput with all service lines, as well as critical staffing needs. This level of commitment reflects her deep sense of responsibility to both patients and colleagues.

Adaptability in High-Pressure Situations:
This nurse demonstrates exceptional adaptability during sudden changes in patient volume. For example, when faced with an unexpected surge in admissions, she quickly reorganized staffing assignments and adjusted priorities to maintain efficient throughput and reduce delays in the emergency department. Her ability to pivot strategies under pressure ensures that patients receive timely care without compromising quality.

Focus on Quality and Care Experience:
She actively drives initiatives aimed at improving quality outcomes and patient experience. Whether it’s implementing best practices for reducing hospital-acquired conditions or leading efforts to enhance communication at the bedside, she keeps patients at the center of every decision.

Critical Thinking and Process Improvement:
This nurse seeks to understand processes deeply, asking thoughtful, well-structured questions that lead to meaningful improvements. For instance, she recently initiated a discussion on optimizing discharge workflows, resulting in reduced bottlenecks and improved patient flow.

Daily Examples of Excellence:
- Proactively rounding on patients to ensure their needs are met and concerns addressed.
- Coaching staff during complex cases, offering guidance while empowering them to make sound clinical decisions.
- Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to resolve barriers to care and improve outcomes.
- Maintaining calm and clarity during code situations, ensuring the team functions efficiently and patients remain safe.

These qualities—leadership, flexibility, accountability, adaptability, and a relentless focus on patient safety—make her an outstanding candidate for the DAISY Award. She exemplifies what it means to lead with compassion and integrity, and her impact on both patients and staff is truly inspiring.


Congratulations, Rylee Mares