Leading with heart: How one manager went above and beyond on a sunday night

At HCA HealthONE Swedish, teamwork isn't just a buzzword; it is the foundation of the care we provide. A recent Sunday night demonstrated exactly how far our leaders will go to support one another and ensure our patients receive the best possible care.

The situation began on a particularly challenging Sunday for Erin Glisczinski, who was finishing her leadership on-call rotation. Throughout the day, the hospital faced a wave of unexpected staff call-ins, specifically affecting the Medical-Surgical units.

Hospital leaders worked together to piece together a staffing plan, but as shift change approached, one critical gap remained in the schedule.

"As I was sending out the bat signal/SOS messages for help and having increased heart palpitations, I received a call from Shanaya, our Emergency Department Manager," Erin shared.

Shanaya had a creative solution. She knew she had a nurse in her own department with previous experience in Orthopedics who could float to the Medical-Surgical unit to fill the need. However, moving that nurse would leave the Emergency Department short-handed.

That is when Shanaya made a decision that truly exemplifies servant leadership. She offered to come into the hospital on her Sunday night to work the Emergency Department assignment herself, freeing up her staff member to help the other unit.

"Her humbled response was she understood there was no way for the Medical-Surgical team to cover this number of sick calls and wanted to help anyway she could, even if that meant her coming in to staff on a Sunday night," Erin said.

While nurse leaders often step in to support their own specific departments, Shanaya’s willingness to look at the bigger picture and sacrifice her personal time to support a different team was extraordinary. Her quick thinking and generosity saved the shift during the final hour of need.

"I have seen Shanaya lead with heart, remain positive and adaptable, and always do the right thing for her patients and her team," Erin added. "I am so appreciative of her leadership and feel incredibly lucky to work on the same team as her!".

Thank you, Shanaya, for modeling what it means to lead with compassion and for showing our community the true spirit of HCA HealthONE Swedish.