Brown among 200 nurses recognized internationally as a Nurse of Note
Brittany Brown, R.N., M.S.N., director of operations for internal medicine, was selected for her dedication and professionalism, as well as for representing the very best of the profession.
By Michelle Ryan
mryan@health.southalabama.edu
“It can be overwhelming since we receive so many nominations with powerful stories,” said Matt Kothe, senior corporate marketing manager for PerfectServe, “but by the end of the process, we're always convinced that we've selected winners who represent the very best of the nursing profession.”
Brown, the only recipient from USA Health, is one of two selected from Mobile, four from the state of Alabama, and six from along the Gulf Coast.
Her nomination read, in part, “She is intentional to make her work meaningful and, 100% of what she does is about the patients and their outcomes. I’ve witnessed her small acts of kindness change the environment, the patient's perspective and impacted outcomes. Brittany cares about everyone involved in the process and makes us feel important. She leads by example and, when related to patient needs, she always finds a way to say yes! If that isn’t above and beyond, I don’t know what is."
Brown credits her background in patient care for complementing her current leadership role overseeing the management and direction of all aspects of operations for more than 15 specialty clinics.
“My training as a registered nurse and nursing executive leader has afforded me the opportunity to partner with our team and drive operational changes while maintaining focus on the patient and the quality of care we deliver,” she said. “In addition, being a registered nurse has assisted with developing stronger connections with providers as we collaborate to optimize the care we offer at USA Health.”
Though nursing is in a different place now than it was during the pandemic, which initially prompted the creation of the Nurses of Note program, Kothe said it remains important to recognize the efforts of nurses.
“Everybody remembers a wonderful nurse who helped them (or a family member/loved one) during a difficult time, and we just want to make sure they know how much their efforts are valued,” he said. “We also know that burnout among nurses is still alarmingly high, and one way to help is by giving these people meaningful recognition to celebrate their work.”
Though she appreciates the honor, Brown said she values something more, and she was quick to share the credit with others around her.
“Receiving positive feedback from our patients or seeing their improvements translate into better quality of life is the greatest recognition a nurse could ever receive,” she said. “I recognize that I am part of a team doing great work, and I could never take sole credit for those outcomes. Our team works hard to make an impact, and it's always reassuring to know the efforts make a difference.”
A member of Mobile Bay’s 2019 40 Under 40 class, Brown also contributes her time to Aubreigh’s Army, a local cancer support organization, and shares career development expertise with area high school students. She is among the fourth annual class of Mobile Community Health Leadership Award honorees, who will be recognized at a ceremony this weekend.
