Current job: Vice president, Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer at Rockdale Medical Center
Family: Husband, Norman Epps; children, Megan Geisler (22) and Sean Sutton (17)
What makes a good leader?
“A good leader is multifaceted with a servant heart. It is important to recognize that those people working for you, and sustaining your vision and efforts, will only excel if they are supported, nurtured and feel like part of the vision you create.
“The strength of a good leader lies in [his or her] ability to recognize the contributions of those around them, provide recognition of their contributions and facilitate their personnel development. It is my personal philosophy that team members do not work for their leader; a good leader works for those team members.”
What are you most proud of in your career?
“I have had a fantastic career with a multitude of leadership positions. I am most proud of the people around me that have chosen me to be in those leadership positions and given me the opportunity to support them. I have worked with wonderful teams throughout my career, and building those teams to work toward great visions has been my greatest blessing. This will continue to be my mission throughout my career.”
Who has inspired or mentored you?
“My greatest personal inspiration has been my children. They have always believed in me and continue to support me through laughter and unconditional love. They knew my strengths when I didn’t and help me to learn more about myself than anything else I have experienced.
“I have also been very fortunate to have worked my entire career with strong, ethical nursing leaders who have taught me that strength does not reside in the position, but within the character of the person. This has enabled me to clearly see my path, celebrate my successes and continually grow emotionally.”
What’s your favorite thing to do away from work?
“My husband is my very best friend. He appreciates and recognizes the time, effort and dedication it takes to do a great job, and allows me the flexibility to excel. Therefore, when we have time away from work, we spend it having fun. Cooking indulgent meals together, traveling to someplace new for a weekend, or having a movie night at home are some of our favorite things to do.”
Who’s your favorite fictional nurse? Why?
“Major Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan [M*A*S*H]. I actually grew up watching her and thought what a great job trauma nursing would be. There was action, romance, humor— all rolled into one. Her character embodied the spirit of a strong, yet compassionate, woman that could hold her own in a crisis.
“My career took me along that very path, and the reality is that trauma nursing is one of the most stressful, yet rewarding, occupations I have ever encountered. I can’t say there was a lot of romance, but definitely a lot of action with an occasional humorous event thrown in for good measure.
“Learning to manage a crisis, while embracing the human element that was involved, molded my ultimate abilities to lead people in my current role. I hope that ‘Hot Lips’ would be proud of her influence on what would be a future nursing leader.”
What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?
“My mother’s pecan pie. It was an award-winning recipe handed down from my grandmother, and is a must at any family holiday gathering.”
Tell us something that nobody at work knows about you:
“People I work with may be surprised to know that I often spend weekends riding on the back of the motorcycle with my husband, enjoying the beauty of nature, with my hair in a ponytail and listening to classic rock music on the radio.”
