Illinois 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award Winner Highlight: Dana Campbell
Meet Dana Campbell, the Education Coordinator for the neuroscience units at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She is recognized for her unwavering dedication and innovative approach to creating a supportive environment for nurses, particularly those entering the post-pandemic profession. Dana has dramatically improved retention rates through her mentorship, education, and interprofessional collaboration and cultivated a culture of excellence. She has been nominated for the class of 2023 Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award. Designed to highlight young nurses that are making a lasting difference in the healthcare industry, this award celebrates those who shape the future of nursing.
Dana Campbell: An Exemplary Nursing Leader Paving the Way for Support and Innovation
In the ever-evolving healthcare field, individuals like Dana Campbell shine as beacons of inspiration and leadership. With a profound passion for her role and an unwavering dedication to the nursing profession, Dana has implemented various initiatives that provide support to her colleagues and drive innovation within the organization.
Creating Supportive Environments:
Dana wholeheartedly recognizes the unique challenges faced by new nurses in the post-pandemic era, acknowledging the heightened stress levels that come with the role. She has gone above and beyond to create additional support systems. One notable initiative is the development of a mentorship program specifically tailored for new nurses. By pairing them with experienced mentors, Dana ensures new nurses have a trusted guide as they navigate their early days in the profession.
To foster camaraderie and encourage connections among new nurses, Dana also organized luncheons where they could come together and engage with their peers and leaders from other departments. These gatherings serve as valuable platforms for networking, sharing experiences, and building community within the hospital.
Recognizing the importance of skill development, Dana established a boot camp program, offering nurses dedicated time to practice and enhance their abilities. This initiative empowers nurses to hone their skills in a supportive environment, ultimately boosting their confidence and competence in delivering patient care.
Empowering Nurses with Resources:
As a clinical expert, Dana’s knowledge and expertise are highly sought after by her colleagues. To make resources easily accessible, she created a platform that provides nurses with convenient access to a wide range of nursing skills guidance and educational materials. This initiative ensures that nurses can access the support they need promptly and efficiently, fostering a culture of continuous learning within the organization.
Moreover, Dana teaches a Stroke and Neuro core curriculum class, demonstrating her commitment to sharing her expertise and empowering others through education. Her dedication to supporting the team extends beyond the ordinary, exemplified by her willingness to stay late, offer assistance during emergencies, or attend early morning meetings to ensure regular check-ins with her colleagues.
Driving Innovation and Collaboration:
Dana’s influence extends beyond her immediate sphere of responsibility. She has played a vital role in operationalizing the remote nursing initiative at NMH. Recognizing the importance of adapting to new healthcare models, she created a comprehensive training guide and led focus groups to facilitate a smooth transition to remote nursing. Dana expanded her mentorship program to include support for nurses working remotely, providing real-time guidance and support to those at the bedside.
Dana’s interprofessional skills and ability to foster meaningful relationships have led to her involvement in several critical committees and projects. As the Co-Chair of the Nursing Peer Review Committee, she advocates for safe, quality, and evidence-based care. Dana actively contributes to the Shared Leadership Committee, influencing policy and practice changes that improve patient outcomes. Additionally, her participation in the Neuroscience Symposium Planning Committee and her involvement with organizations like the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) make her a highly valuable committee member, driving advancements in the field.
Beyond her official responsibilities, Dana initiated a project aimed to enhance constructive feedback among staff, further fostering positive relationships within the organization. She also plays a pivotal role in leadership development, partnering with the professional development team to orient charge nurses through a specialized class.
A Commitment to Well-being:
Dana’s commitment to nursing extends beyond the workplace. In her personal life, she actively engages in activities that promote well-being and resilience. By organizing a team to participate in the annual American Brain Tumor Association 5K and attending a mindfulness-based stress reduction class, she showcases her dedication to personal growth and stress management. These endeavors enable her to bring valuable insights and techniques to her role, supporting and inspiring her colleagues.
Transforming Nursing Leadership: Dana Campbell’s Inspiring Journey of Dedication, Innovation, and Support
Dana Campbell’s remarkable contributions as an Education Coordinator and nursing leader at NMH exemplify the transformative power of dedication, innovation, and a supportive environment. Through her mentorship programs, skill development initiatives, and collaborative efforts, she has created an atmosphere that fosters growth, improves retention rates, and combats burnout among nurses. Dana’s commitment to continuously enhancing patient care and her unwavering support for her colleagues make her an exemplary nursing leader, inspiring others to strive for excellence in the field.
Congratulations to Dana Campbell and Northwestern Memorial Hospital for this prestigious honor! The Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under 40 Award for Emerging Nurse Leaders is proven to open career doors for its recipients. INF is proud to celebrate nurses like Dana, who have made a lasting impact in the healthcare industry.
For more information on the INF 40 Under 40 Award Ceremony, click this link.
Illinois Nurses Foundation: Support Education, Advocation, and Recognition for Nurses
The Illinois Nurses Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports nurses through various programs, empowering them, promoting excellence, and advancing the nursing profession while also recognizing and celebrating the remarkable achievements of young nurses through the INF 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award, highlighting their talent and potential for the field’s growth and evolution. Donate to INF today, and you can help empower nurses and improve healthcare!