Super Star Leader: Shawnda Kelley

September 29, 2015

93015SSShawndaKelley175Shawnda Kelly from Orthopedic Surgery is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star leader. “To be a Super Star at Texas Children’s Hospital is to be someone who is passionate about whatever role they are in,” said Kelley. Read more of Kelley’s interview, and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Q&A: Shawnda Kelley, April – June 2015 Leader

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Shawnda Kelley, RN, BSN, Patient Care Manager, Orthopedic Surgery – Outpatient. I have been with the department for three years but have been with Texas Children’s Hospital for eight years.

What month are you Super Star for?
Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2015

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
My leader Binta Baudy told me that we needed to meet urgently to discuss the budget. She told me that I could only hire one employee for the year after there was a decision to bring other employees on board. When I arrived to the room all the staff were there waiting, and they surprised me.

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do? How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
To be recognized for your hard work is an amazing feeling. The catch to that is you do not even realize the impact that you have on families and staff members. Texas Children’s Hospital has played a vital role with assisting me in achieving my goals by offering leadership classes, the mentor program and a plethora of awesome leaders who lead by example and provide the needed support and guidance.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
To be a Super Star at Texas Children’s Hospital is to be someone who is passionate about whatever role they are in. I feel as though if one has a passion for what they do, they will always go above and beyond. From providing the utmost patient care to being a shoulder for staff members and colleagues to lean on, that passion is what drives us to be super at what we do.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
I have two awesome boys at home, and whether it is developing a new process or speaking with a family, I always ask myself “how would this affect my children if they were in this situation.” We are here to provide the best care to patients and families and seeing the difference that I make allows me to continue to provide that care.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
The best thing about working at Texas Children’s is the patients. We see a variety of patients from all walks of life and just knowing that I was there to help a patient get through a diagnosis, surgery and post-op care means everything to me.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
I am very humbled that others consider me as a leader and look to me to lead. I have always wanted to be an inspiration to others so that they know with hard work they can accomplish great things. My leadership definition is “To Inspire Individuals To Do Great Things!”

Anything else you want to share?
I am very fortunate to be a part of the Texas Children’s family and work alongside some of the best physicians and staff. It has been a pleasure to be a part of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and even more so, to be a part of Ambulatory Nursing. I want to thank my leader, the staff members and both physicians and mid-levels for being great at what they do!