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Linda Edenfield, RN, Nurse Manager, 5 Central, is known for leading by example. Recently, a patient family member and two colleagues nominated her for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award, which recognizes one leader annually who use their leadership role to improve the patient experience. The nominations praised Linda’s authenticity and how she models exceptional patient care for her team. Excerpts from the nominations are below. Congratulations, Linda!

From a patient family member
“Linda created an environment that fostered care and compassion for my daughter, and these attributes were also seen in each of the team members on this unit. Not only did each nurse on the unit display a caring, supportive environment for my daughter, but we learned that many of these nurses are travelers or labor pool. I found it amazing that the nurse manager could select staff, even short term travelers, that were so committed and part of the team providing exceptional care. Caring for a patient who has complex medical and pain issues can be very taxing on staff yet not once did a nurse make my daughter feel like she was burdening them by her calls for pain or nausea medications. They validated her pain and advocated for her when her needs were not being met. They each demonstrated the characteristics that we saw in the nurse manager when she interacted with my daughter. Nutrition was a monumental issue for my daughter, and nurses, patient care techs, and dietary would find her favorite Ensure, make her nutritional shakes, and do whatever they could to increase her nutritional intake. Many a nurse would sit with my daughter as she would cry, worry, and stress about what decision she should make about long-term feeding tube placement and her medical treatment options. You could always count on a cheerful voice answering the call bell. Even housekeeping would provide a kind word while they were in cleaning and straightening up her room. Each individual we encountered on this unit was cheerful, helpful, supportive of their coworkers, and carried themselves in a professional manner. I feel that this is the case because the nurse manager has exemplified the behaviors that she expects in her staff and has created a culture that practices these beliefs. You never heard anyone voice issues about their coworkers, a grumble about their unit, or any displeasure about this institution.”

From a team member
“While managers are not expected to put on scrubs and get their hands dirty, Linda often does. Initially, she did this because it was important to her to be a resource for her staff and to fully understand our patient population. As time has gone on, and we periodically find ourselves in a staffing pinch, Linda is always willing to be a part of the backup plan and takes a full patient assignment to prevent closure of beds or additional stress on her staff. Being a cardiac nurse before she was a gastroenterology (GI) nurse has given us the confidence to push ourselves to care for our GI patients even when cardiac issues come up. She shares her knowledge with us, and our patients have benefited as a result. When we recently allowed a post-pacemaker patient come to our unit, she provided guidance, resources, and moral support. In huddle the next day, she made sure to praise the staff and tell us how proud she was that we were willing to stretch our comfort zone to take care of a patient in need. It was Linda who allowed us to do this safely and with confidence.”

From a team member
“Linda is an authentic leader. She listens generously and is curious about everything. Examples abound for how Linda serves the nursing and interprofessional team. Her great empathy and love of people is infectious. A young disabled woman was recently a patient in our unit. She recovered from her acute condition only to learn that her placement at a group home had been rescinded. They were not willing to accept her back. This was devastating news to the patient and her father. The whole 5 Central team was led by Linda to jump into action to help her cope. Linda worked with our amazing case manager and social worker and the trio began advocating for her. On a daily basis, Linda would ensure that she was helped up to a chair and brought into the hall – her new favorite place. Team members would talk with her, color cartoons, and help her with an iPad to watch her animal videos. The day she left for a new group home, Linda involved the team, and we gave her a signed 5 Central T-shirt.”

Know a fabulous nurse?
The Professional Nursing Staff Organization honors up to two UVA RNs each month with a DAISY Award. Nominations may be submitted by patients, patient families, visitors, and fellow UVA team members. Learn more at uvadaisy.com.