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PALM BEACH GARDENS MEDICAL CENTER BROWARD HEALTH NORTH

Ruth Chibis, RN
Kaylee Liggett, BSN, RN, CCRN
Ruth Chibis, R.N., began her nursing career 42 years ago
Kaylee Liggett works in the Cardiac Cath Lab and and has served at Broward Health North in the Surgical
Intensive Care Unit at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. Telemetry Unit on the 9th floor for the last 10 years. From
From a young age, Kaylee was always drawn to the nursing Chibis’ earliest memories, she always wanted to be a nurse
field. Her mother was a nurse, and she has always had an and loved helping others.
innate desire to help people. Kaylee says that for her, nursing In addition to being a caregiver, Chibis serves as a mentor
is the perfect profession for her. What Kaylee loves most to many new nurses. She encourages them to love their
about being a nurse, is helping and advocating for people at patients, to treat every patient like they would want to be
their most vulnerable and unexpected moments. Kaylee says treated and emphasizes the importance of team work within
that while some days are harder than others, what is most rewarding to her, are those the unit.
unexpected days or the more intimate little moments she gets with her patients, their COVID-19 brought about challenges and triumphs over the past year. Her most
family members, and her colleagues. She says nursing keeps her humble, and there is rewarding experience in the battle against the virus was being a confidant and a hand
not a day which goes by where she’s not learning or gaining perspective from a col- for many of her patients to hold as they battled alone.
league or patient. Kaylee received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Lakeview “It has been so wonderful to be with my patients, to listen to them, encourage
College of Nursing in Danville, Illinois. When Kaylee is not working, she enjoys them, love them and be their "family away from their family," said Chibis. “No matter
going to the beach with her goldendoodle Oliver, spending time with her friends and how sick, alone or scared a patient is, being there, caring for them, and holding their
family, hiking, and cooking. hands makes a huge difference.”
Chibis’ biggest motivation as a nurse is being an advocate for her patients, “making
Juliette Francois, ADN, LPN, RN sure that nothing is overlooked that would affect their outcome,” she said. “You
should make every patient feel that they are valuable and loved.”
Juliette Francois is a nurse on the orthopedic floor at Palm In her free time, Chibis volunteers as an aid for international disaster relief with
Beach Gardens Medical Center. Juliette was inspired to Hope Force and Project Medishare.
become a nurse because of her late mother-in-law who paid
for Juliette’s assistant nursing license, and pushed her to get
her practical nursing license too. Juliette has now been a
nurse for over 10 years. What she finds most rewarding
about being a nurse is helping her patients heal, and being a BROWARD HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER
positive light for someone who needs it. Early on in her
career, a patient told Juliette she had a calming spirit, and
she will touch many people’s lives during some of their lowest moments. Juliette
earned her associates degree in nursing from the Academy of Nursing and Health Donna Small, RN
Occupations in West Palm Beach, Florida. When she is not at work, she enjoys run-
ning, reading, traveling and spending time with her family. Donna Small, R.N., is the Chief Nursing Officer at
Broward Health Medical Center. Her passion for her nursing
career has translated into 30 years of healthcare experience,
from bedside nurse to executive leadership positions.
BROWARD HEALTH IMPERIAL POINT “I have always wanted to be a nurse,” said Small. “Even
when I was a child, I wanted to take care of people. It was
my passion.”
Rachel Chavez, RN As CNO during the COVID-19 pandemic, Small considers
these past 14 months the hardest for nurses and nurse exec-
If Rachel Chavez, R.N., must choose one thing that the utives. “Never did I ever think that we would have a pandemic so difficult and so long
fraught days of the pandemic crystalized it’s that “there is with all the physical and emotional pressures,” she said. “One of the positives is how
nothing nurses cannot do.” the caregivers have adapted to change as we continue to learn about COVID-19.”
“We have help from many different disciplines and ancil- Small considers loves working with seniors and enjoys making that connection
lary departments that allows us to provide the best possible with the patients and her staff. “When you think about the difference you made – ‘I
care to our patients,” said Chavez. “During the most chal- saved a life. I helped a family member. I made a connection with someone. Nursing
lenging times we always believe in what we can accom- is a rewarding profession,” said Small.
plish, so we do.” Before joining Broward Health in December 2019, Small served as chief nursing
Chavez, who is a nurse manager, leads about 70 care- officer at St. Mary's Medical Center and Palm Beach Children’s Hospital in West Palm
givers in the Progressive Care Unit (PCU). The 49-bed PCU provides medical inter- Beach, where she provided leadership for patient care services. Small also worked pre-
vention and care for acutely ill patients who have a range of complex, progressive viously as CNO at Broward Health North for 10 years.
and rapidly changing medical or surgical disorders. Small earned her associate in nursing from Broward College and her BSN at Lynn
“It has been my honor to lead my department to practice at the height of what University. She received her MBA in Healthcare from Phoenix University. She is a pro-
they are trained to do by enhancing the level of care and service that we provide to fessional member of American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) and the
the community,” Chavez said. Southeast Florida Organization of Nurse Executives (SFONE).
“We have laughed, learned and cried together over the last year,” she said. “All of
this has only strengthened our team, motivated and inspired us to continue to do
what we love - provide nursing care.”
Chavez holds certifications in nurse management and pediatric emergency. She
also has a master’s degree in nursing from Grand Canyon University and a bachelor’s
degree from Barry University.

Coming Next Month...

Annual Healthcare Hurricane Planning Guide
Emergency Department Trends and Challenges/Trauma Medicine
Disaster Planning – Preparedness • Healthcare Real Estate Update - Mid 2020 Update
Eldercare Advances in South Florida • Healthcare Staffing Challenges

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