For Gemma Velasco, nursing is much more than just a career and being a manager more than just supervising others. “It’s my role to serve the staff, be their advocate, and lead them to good patient outcomes. Our Memorial culture means we take good care of the caregivers.”
A nurse for more than 40 years, including the last 21 in the Memorial system, Velasco believes strongly in creating a unit environment that prioritizes kindness, humility, and compassion. She’s firm but fair, and quick to offer a warm smile and homemade goodies to nurses that look to her for leadership.
“We’ve got a lot of different personalities and individuals from many cultures,” said Velasco, a native of the Philippines. “So being a trusted advisor that’s clear about expectations and holds everyone equally accountable goes a long way toward creating relationships that make a difference for our team and the patients we serve.”
