St. Anthony's Hospital Nurse Manager Receives National Patriotic Employer Award
A St. Anthony’s Hospital nurse manager has been recognized with a national award for her efforts to accommodate scheduling for a team member who serves in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Jackie Miller, who has been with St. Anthony’s for 15 years – all of them on the Cardiac Medical 1 (3SW) unit – was presented with the Patriot Award, given to employers who offer extra support to team members who continue to serve in the military. She was nominated by Joe Alaimo, a U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant who has been a registered nurse at St. Anthony’s for three years.
“This award means a lot to me,” Miller said. “My brothers were in the military. My dad was in the military, and I am so proud of Joe. I have gotten to know Joe who is an excellent leader and is responsible and reliable. He has been very dedicated to the military and our team respects him very much.”
Miller is the second St. Anthony’s team member to be presented with the national award which is presented through the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). ESGR has been a U.S. Department of Defense program since 1972.
The Patriot Award was given to about 400 employers in Florida last year, said Roger Trout, LTC, USA, Retired and Florida ESGR chair emeritus, who presented the award to Miller. Last year, 8,316 Patriot Awards were presented nationally. In addition to Miller, four other managers at BayCare hospitals have received the award.
In his nomination letter, Alaimo wrote about Miller’s willingness to help him meet his service responsibilities. “My supervisor has gone above and beyond for me in support of my military duty,” Alaimo said. “…She constantly asks me if I need extra time off to accomplish my military duties. She supports me 100% in everything I do and I couldn’t ask for a better manager to work for when it comes to my military training.”
According to ESGR’s website, the Patriot Award reflects employers' “… efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed.”
As an Army medic, Alaimo must renew certifications every two years. Alaimo is part of the 7222 Medical Support Unit which was among the units that train medics in the reserves.
“The training is two weeks long and I was one of the assistant instructors. Every 3-4 months I would be tasked with assisting in this training and sometimes, I would need to fill in if another instructor could no longer make it,” Alaimo said. “This would require me to call Miller and notify her of my absence, sometimes with just a few days' notice. Jackie has always been understanding of this and supportive in all aspects whenever it comes to the military and me.”
The 35,000 National Guard and Reserve members in Florida are part of the 1.3 million members nationally, ESGR said, and they continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions that require extraordinary actions on the part of everyday citizens.
Recently, Alaimo learned that he will be deployed to Texas for a one-year assignment. But Miller already has assured him that his job will be waiting for him when he returns.
Having Miller as a manager, “means the world. I do not think anyone who serves in the reserves wants to have to call their manager to tell them that they cannot make their scheduled shifts because of military training and duties,” Alaimo said. “It is required of us though, and having a manager like Jackie makes that phone call so much easier. I don't have to stress about my civilian job and my military job.”
Miller said that she appreciates Alaimo’s dedication to his military service and to his St. Anthony’s career. “I am truly touched and honored to receive this award, especially because it comes from Joe who is on my team, the best team in BayCare,” she said. “I also am grateful to Joe and our military that fights for our freedom every day to protect us and give us all inner peace.”
