Bride describes her role as “providing employees with what they need to get their jobs done. I help coordinate services on the units and make sure the nurse managers have what they need to do their jobs.”

She points to Bride’s chairmanship of the Code Blue Committee, which monitors responses to critical patient conditions at the hospital. Under Bride’s leadership, the committee purchased emergency equipment to install in the cafeteria, the PRT lobby and other strategic locations throughout Duke Hospital. The committee also began running mock code drills that tested the hospital’s emergency response and improved physician and staff education based on the results of those drills.

In 2006, the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) that Bride has managed or directed since 1975, won the Beacon Award for excellence in critical care nursing. This award is considered the highest honor in critical care nursing, and the Duke CCU is the first unit in North Carolina to receive the award. Bride also was the first nurse manager at Duke to involve all disciplines in operational and performance improvement initiatives.

“Wanda’s selfless leadership has contributed to the care of many thousands of patients and influenced the training of many hundreds of physicians,” says Jeffrey Samz, Duke Heart Services associate operating officer. “In my 15 years in hospital administration, she is without question the most talented nursing manager I have ever encountered.”

When asked about her success, Bride is quick to point to those around her. “I get a lot of support from the doctors, nurses and other departments,” she says. “They give you the room to grow. You’re allowed to make mistakes and encouraged to stick your neck out. I feel like I can do what I need to do to get the job done.”

The feeling is mutual, says Thalman. “I know that as a patient I would want Wanda on my watch, as a colleague I want her on my team, and as a member of Duke’s family she serves as a cornerstone.”