Presbyterian Village North’s director of nursing, Michael Bobbitt, has recently received D Magazine’s Excellence in Nursing Award for long-term care. This award recognizes nurses that go above and beyond while caring for patients. This year, 456 nominees were narrowed down to one winner in each of the 24 different categories of nursing. The editors selected the best nominations and sent them to a panel of registered nurses in various fields whose combined scores chose the winners. In addition, Presbyterian Village North’s Health Care Center was listed on U.S. News & World Report’s Best of 2014 list for the second year in a row under Bobbitt’s direction.
“I am so humbled and honored to be recognized among such an accomplished group of nursing leaders,” said Bobbitt. “However, I am always aware that no nurse leader is an island, and without the whole clinical team at Presbyterian Village North, I would not have this honor.”
Bobbitt oversees more than 250 nursing employees in an administrative position, and his true fulfillment comes from his face-to-face interactions with staff, residents and their family members. He has a passion for encouraging his employees to become self-sustaining, and enjoys leading his team toward success. He believes the most important quality is to be compassionate and he leads by example. Because of his leadership, in 2012 Presbyterian Village North achieved 5 out of 5 stars in all three individual categories of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 5-star rating system, becoming the only long-term care community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to achieve this honor. The campus was also recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in 2013 and 2014.
“Michael is by far one of the most well rounded nurse administrators with whom I have ever operated with in my long-term care career,” said Dr. Mary Bean, associate executive director at Presbyterian Village North. “His genuine support of his teammates leads to their commitment to residents’ care, and one of his greatest achievements is his commitment to customer service. On his rounds, Michael personally meets and introduces himself to each new resident. He also provides family members with his personal cell number so they can contact him easily if necessary.”
Bobbitt takes pride in providing quality care to the residents and their families. With that goal in mind, he creates learning opportunities for the staff to stay on top of the latest information. Under Bobbitt’s leadership, the senior living community offers multiple venues and convenient educational classes seven days a week and at night. Since beginning his work at Presbyterian Village North in 2011, Bobbitt has initiated monthly meetings with his nurse managers to review best practice books and introduced monthly lunch and learns for nursing and other staff. As a result of constantly going above and beyond his duties, he was also named Nurse Administrator of the Year in 2013 by the National Association of Directors of Nursing.
“We are so proud of Michael’s accomplishments and for being recognized as the best long-term care nurse in the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” said Ron Kelly, executive director at Presbyterian Village North. “We know Michael will continue to provide the leadership and quality of care that characterizes our community.”
Bobbitt first became interested in the field of long-term living growing up on a horse farm in Crockett, Texas, where he was significantly influenced by his great aunt Mary. When he was growing up, she was in her 80s and would often tell him fascinating stories of the time when she drove a buggy around town. He loved hearing about her life and figures this was the start of his appreciation of seniors, considering it an honor to hear their personal life stories.
“I chose nursing because I wanted to make a difference by impacting lives and enriching others in need,” said Bobbitt. “I believe that almost anyone can be taught the technical components of our profession, but not everyone has the most important component which is the quality of compassion. The happiest part of my day is listening to a story from a patient or family member, or watching an employee lovingly take care of our residents.”