Jessica Berry, RN, Received Leadership Award in July

Berry assists in the efficient flow of patients from the admission process to discharge and promotes effective communication between hospital units, which has been paramount during the pandemic response.

Jessica Berry, RN, manager, nursing administration, received the Olympic Medical Center Leadership Award in July. Darryl Wolfe, chief executive officer, announced the award at the July monthly management team meeting.

During a time when OMC has seen a marked increase in visits to the emergency department, resulting in increased wait times and short staffing in nursing areas, Berry’s leadership is more lauded than ever.

Vickie Swanson, chief nursing officer at OMC, shared this about Berry: “Jessica is a true leader, someone who is transparent and whose expectations are clear. She is a strong resource and consistently demonstrates professionalism clinically and interpersonally.”

Berry is a 16-year veteran of OMC, lending her nursing expertise and leadership skills to the house supervision team at OMC.

In Berry’s current role, she is responsible for overseeing the nursing administration department, including house supervisors. She works closely with providers, department directors, charge nurses and others to ensure proper patient placement, appropriateness of admission status and appropriateness of staff levels. Berry assists in the efficient flow of patients from the admission process to discharge and promotes effective communication between hospital units, which has been paramount during the pandemic response.

Swanson describes Berry as the definition of a nurse and a leader, one who “goes above and beyond the call of duty; is the first to work and the last to leave; the heart and soul of caring; a unique soul who will pass through your life for a minute and impact it for eternity.”