How a Mischievous Doll Became a Beloved Nurses Week Tradition at St. Mary’s

How a Mischievous Doll Became a Beloved Nurses Week Tradition at St. Mary's

At St. Mary's, Nurses Week comes with the usual celebrations of gratitude and recognition, but over the past few years, one of the most anticipated traditions has come in the form of a small nurse doll with a very big personality.

Her name is Nurse Nancy, and what she lacks in clinical skills and certifications, she makes up for in well-meaning misadventures.

Throughout Nurses Week, Nurse Nancy travels across departments at St. Mary's, finding herself in increasingly hilarious and unexpected situations. One day she may be spotted in neurology, making rounds in the Emergency Department or recovering from a "rough shift" in the staff wellness room. Other times, she's getting into harmless trouble with staff, showing up in creative scenes built entirely by the teams themselves.

Departments across the hospital photograph Nurse Nancy's adventures and send them in each day, turning the week into a hospital-wide scavenger hunt of creativity, humor and camaraderie.

At the end of each day, staff eagerly wait for the latest recap email written entirely in the voice of Nurse Nancy herself. Equal parts comedy and chaos, the updates recount her latest adventures across the organization and have become one of the highlights of Nurses Week for many employees.

The person behind those recaps is Jill Rollins, chief nursing officer, who brought the tradition to St. Mary's after joining the organization.

"In healthcare, the work can be incredibly heavy," Rollins said. "Nurses and healthcare teams carry so much every day. Nurse Nancy became a way to bring people together, make them laugh and create some joy during a busy week."

Over the years, the tradition has taken on a life of its own. Departments now plan their Nurse Nancy photo ideas well in advance, and staff look forward to seeing what kind of trouble she'll get into next.

"Our work is hard," Rollins said. "Finding joy in the work and remembering to laugh together is important. Nurse Nancy became a fun way for people to connect, be creative and enjoy each other during Nurses Week."

While Nurses Week is meant to recognize the extraordinary work nurses do every day, Nurse Nancy has also become a reminder of the people behind the profession. The photos, stories and laughter give teams a chance to pause, engage with one another and celebrate not just nursing, but each other.

"Healthcare needs moments of humanity and fun," she said. "If Nurse Nancy helps people smile, feel appreciated or feel connected to each other, then she's doing her job."