“She is always willing to give of herself.” — Chief Nurse Executive Gretchen Johnson, DNP, MSN, RN-BC.
Congratulations to Lisa Zwerk, MSN, RN, CARN, recent winner of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award!
Lisa, a nursing manager on the Residential and Detox units of the Pine Rest Retreat Clinic, is being recognized for outstanding dedication to our addiction recovery program and unwavering commitment to the nursing profession.
Over the past year, Lisa has demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and innovation in her role leading our SUD Partial Program, where she collaborated closely with management to allow the program to begin accepting Medicaid—an important step in expanding access for those in need.
In addition to her program development work, Lisa has taken the initiative many times to promote services within the community. She has reached out to local emergency departments and physician offices to share information about and increase awareness of our addiction treatment program. She has also provided educational presentations on substance use at local colleges, helping to inform and engage the next generation of professionals.
Lisa’s patient-centered approach to care and commitment to improving communication across departments at Pine Rest has also made a clear impact. She helped streamline coordination between our call center and Redwood Unit, and also played a key role in launching a Transitional Care Management (TCM) program to provide follow-up support for patients after discharge.
Lisa continually seeks opportunities to contribute beyond her regular duties, such as serving on multiple committees and supporting various initiatives within Pine Rest. Her collaborative spirit and willingness to lead by example have made her a valuable resource to both peers and leadership. Among her contributions:
- Being on the original steering committee to get nursing peer review started;
- Helping launch the 2024 and 2025 Psychiatric Nursing Conferences at Pine Rest;
- Presenting at numerous conferences, including Nursing Grand Rounds, the 2024 Psych Nursing Conference and the 2025 ‘Adolescents & the Complex World of Substances’ conference;
- Presenting at high schools and getting students excited about the prospect of a psychiatric nursing career;
- Participating in many community events;
- … and much more
Throughout all of this, Lisa remains a positive and steady presence. Her professionalism, compassion, and drive to improve the quality of care continue to inspire those around her and reflect the highest standards of service and leadership. Thank you, Lisa, for your compassion, commitment, and many selfless contributions!
The DAISY award is presented in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). To learn more and/or nominate an extraordinary Pine Rest nurse, visit our DAISY Nomination page.
