Author: McLaren Flint
Kelly Jakubik, RN, the nurse manager on the hospital’s intensive care unit, is the 2024 McLaren Flint DAISY Nurse Leader award winner. Kelly and her peers were honored at a May 9 ceremony.
For more than 20 years, the DAISY Foundation has recognized the compassionate patient care nurses provide. The DAISY Nurse Leader Award, however, recognizes those who do not provide direct care, but who create an environment where compassionate, skillful care thrives. Many hospitals across the country bestow this award on nurse managers, directors, assistant managers, charge nurses, and educators, among others.
Kelly started her nursing career 15 years ago and joined McLaren Flint in 2012. She became a nursing leader during the pandemic.
Her nominators say Kelly is an advocate for them, truly cares for them, is reliable, funny, good-hearted, has a wealth of knowledge, and really makes the unit a rewarding place to work.
“I have a great team that I am blessed to work with,” said Kelly. “They are family to me. I want to support them in every way I can, so they can provide the best care to our patients.”
Janisha Claxton, RN, cardiac stepdown unit manager; Mandi Herron, inpatient behavioral health unit manager; and Toni Van Dongen, RN, surgical stepdown and neuro stroke unit manager were also nominated for the award.
“For 22 straight years, Americans have rated nursing as the most trusted profession, according to annual Gallup surveys,” said Ruth Kechnie, McLaren Flint Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. “Working with our leadership team and the one-on-one encounters I have with RNs on the patient care units leaves no doubt in my mind that our nursing staff is an example of that earned trust from those who choose us for their care.”