Illinois 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award Winner Highlight: Colleen Haynes
Meet Colleen Haynes, a Clinical faculty RN at Rush University. Colleen is a nurse who demonstrates compassion, leadership, adaptability, and a commitment to providing high-quality care and education to patients, peers, and nursing students. 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.
Colleen Haynes: An Exemplary Nurse Leader Embodying Compassion and Adaptability
Colleen’s compassion shines through in every aspect of her work. She demonstrates empathy and understanding by interacting with patients, nursing students, and clinical instructors, making everyone around her feel appreciated and cared for. Her patients have even nominated her for Daisy Awards, a testament to the meaningful connections she establishes with those under her care. Colleen Haynes is an exceptional nurse who goes above and beyond to provide high-quality care and education to her patients, peers, and nursing students.
Leadership: Guiding Others Through Challenging Times
During the pandemic’s peak, Colleen displayed exceptional leadership skills as the interim assistant director for a medical surgical unit at RUSH University Medical Center. In this role, she actively participated in covid action plan meetings, provided staff encouragement and communication, managed scheduling and payroll, and ensured smooth operations during a tumultuous period.
Dedicated to Nursing Education
Colleen’s commitment to nursing education is evident through her role as a practicum advisor for the Nursing Management of Common Health Alterations Throughout the Lifespan course. Coordinating clinical sites for many students, she works diligently to train and advise clinical instructors and collaborates on implementing plans to achieve course objectives successfully.
Adaptability: Thriving Amid Diverse Responsibilities
Colleen’s ability to adapt is nothing short of remarkable. As a practicum advisor, she steps in as a clinical instructor when needed, interacting with different patients and students across various hospital floors. In the complex care course, she is a clinical instructor on the telemetry ICU floor of another hospital, balancing multiple responsibilities with composure and grace.
Colleen’s experience as a charge nurse on a busy floor specializing in spine, ear, nose, and throat and plastic surgery further contributes to her adaptability. The training received in this demanding role has undoubtedly shaped her ability to handle complex situations and support her team effectively.
Colleen Haynes: An Extraordinary Nurse Leader
Colleen Haynes is a true exemplar of a compassionate and adaptable nurse leader. Her dedication to patient care, nursing education, and leading others through challenging times is unmatched. Colleen’s remarkable ability to thrive amid diverse responsibilities and maintain composure makes her a role model for aspiring nurses and a true asset to the nursing profession.
Congratulations to Shana Freehill and OSF HealthCare 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 Shana 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!