December 1, 2006

Tully named Nurse of the Year

Susan Tully, RN, MGH Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) nurse manager, (pictured on far right) has been named Nursing Spectrum's 2006 Nurse of the Year in the Management category. Along with five other winners in additional categories, Tully was selected from a pool of regional winners whose nominations were judged by Nursing Spectrum's National Advisory Board members. As a national winner, she was found to "exemplify all that is profound, rewarding and deeply moving about the nursing profession."

Tully accepted her Nurse of the Year award in Chicago at an awards luncheon honoring all of the Nursing Spectrum's 2006 Nurse of the Year winners. They also were featured on the cover of Nursing Spectrum's Nov. 6 issue.

Nominated by the entire SICU staff, Tully was described as highly skilled at managing conflict and creative at identifying solutions to the challenges inherent in the complex setting of the SICU. Tully manages a staff of 134 employees and works diligently with residents, fellows, attending physicians and other staff to tend to some of the most acutely ill patients in the region. "Susan defines the SICU," says one staff member. "We could ask for no better leader." Among the other qualities attributed to Tully are her excellence in leadership, innovation, mentorship, communication and her strength of character. She also is known as an intelligent and fair manager who fosters a collaborative environment within the unit.

"If you treat your staff members as individuals, you can work with them as effectively as possible," says Tully. "If you take care of your staff, they'll be in the best position to take care of their patients."

Four MGH nurses were finalists in the regional New England Nursing Spectrum Excellence Awards 2006 Program: Diane Carroll, RN, PhD, nominated by colleagues May Cadigan, RN, and Colleen Gonzalez, RN, in the Teaching category; Adele Keeley, RN, nominated by colleague Mary Lavieri, RN, in the Advancing and Leading the Profession category; and Jean Stewart, RN, nominated by her nurse manager, Kathie Myers, RN, in the Clinical Care category.