Nursing Hero Nominee Juliet Hutchinson, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Dear award selection committee,

It is my pleasure to write this letter nominating Juliet Hutchinson for the 2019 Nursing Hero Award. I am writing on behalf of myself and many of the staff here on D3 E&G and P&L Odette Family Cardiac Inpatient Unit at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. I have had the pleasure of working with Juliet since the beginning of January 2019 when I joined the D3 team as a new cardiac surgery nurse practitioner. Although I have spent a very short time in her company, I could tell from the very start that her hard work deserved recognition. Juliet takes pride in her role and executes it seamlessly. More often than not she carries out additional nursing tasks and stays over time to support the unit, all with a smile on her face. It seems as though for Juliet that her day is done not when the clock indicates “quitting time”, rather, her day is complete when she feels personally fulfilled and satisfied with the work she has put in.

I believe it is important to highlight the impact that she has had on the team. As such, I have included short excerpts of what some of her colleagues have to say about her.

“I have known Juliet for over 10 years as the D3 charge nurse. I remember interviewing Juliet for a 1 year temporary charge nurse position – back then I felt that Juliet had something special and would make a difference. It has now been over 10 years and she has definitely made a huge impact as well as a great footprint. Juliet is definitely D3’s Nursing Hero! Juliet continues to give so much of herself and can often be seen working after her hours alongside her colleagues to ensure that the remainder of their day shift is manageable. She arrives daily at 07:00 for a 07:30 start and consistently leaves around 18:00 rather than her scheduled time of 15:00. She consistently comes to work with sense of duty and compassion. She is the epitome of a true leader. A charge nurse’s role is an important part of the patient care experience. Her strong work ethic, persistence and intellectual integrity make her an excellent charge nurse. Juliet demonstrates exceptional knowledge and skills within our unit – she is the go-to-person. Juliet is an excellent communicator. She is enthusiastic, energetic, competent and well-organized. I particularly appreciate her expertise in providing exceptional person-centered care. I have truly enjoyed working with Juliet. She is a true champion for person-centered care when it matters most.”

– Garshia Ferdinand- Flament, PCM

“It is hard to put into words what Juliet means to the unit. Juliet’s role is as a charge nurse on D3 who oversees the unit operations. But she is much more than just her role. She is the go-to person for clarifications, problem-solving, support, and a good laugh. She goes above and beyond the expectations/role of charge nurse. She often stays beyond her regular hours to support the staff, resolve issues, and help out when staff are overwhelmed. She will never leave a problem unsolved and will go out of her way to make sure everything is smooth for patients, patient family and staff. She works tirelessly and you will see her always running around helping everyone any way she can. She is truly our nursing hero.”

– Todd Wang, RN & Luwam Thomas, RN

I am in a temporary role on D3, having joined the team in Sept 2018. The first person I met on the unit was Juliet. She welcomed me warmly and considered me a member of the team from the onset. She has exceptional skills that allow her to manage a high paced environment with competing demands. She is knowledgeable, organized and keeps the flow of the unit running smoothly. Juliet gives so much of herself to provide comfort to patients. Her caring nature has touched so many lives. She has witnessed so much pain, anger and heartache from the patients and families she works with, and continues to make space to support staff. Juliet deserves to be honored not only today but always.

– Rinat Mayer, MSW

The knowledge, approachability and confidence that Juliet exhibits in her practice makes her an exemplary mentor not just for the nursing staff on D3, but also for myself as a practitioner. It is evident that Juliet takes pride in being a nursing leader. I am convinced that Juliet’s work ethic and leadership qualities are exemplar and deserves to be recognized as such. I strongly believe that Juliet Hutchinson should be awarded the 2019 Nursing Hero award. I would like to thank you for considering Juliet as a recipient for this award.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Fernandes, MN-NP (PHC-GH), BScN, HBSc

Nurse Practitioner, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Schulich Heart Centre

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre