Clinical Expertise: This is one of the fundamental qualities that make this ICU RN to be great in her role as our nurse educator. She has a deep understanding of our critical care practice, which makes her effective in educating and mentoring every one of us, from the new graduate nurses to the transitional nurses and experienced nurses who join our team. Having spent years in frontline critical care, she brings real-world experiences and situations to the ICU nurses’ learning environment. Our latest critical care annual competency featured a real stroke scenario with a simulated Ct-scan setup that gave us a unique real-time experience in responding to a Stroke Alert as B.E.S.T. RN responders. That experience provided us practical insights into our unique role as code responders and helped bridge the gap between the theory and practice of a real Stroke Alert response. Her wealth of critical care knowledge and experience contribute to the molding of well-rounded ICU nurses who are up-to-date in learning.

Competence and professionalism: Andrea is clinically strong, actively participates in interdisciplinary rounds, responds to codes, assists MDs with intubation and bedside procedures, and challenges the team to discontinue lines and Foley catheters as appropriate. She garnered her CCRN certification shortly after being hired as our unit clinician. This is the best indicator of her commitment to professional growth. She wanted to be an example of professionalism for our team. Knowing that CCRN is the ultimate certification for critical care nurses, she was not content with motivating the nurses to take the exam; she set them an example by becoming certified. That commitment to professionalism did not end in her certification. It extended to her current commitment to motivate our ICU nurses to rigorously prepare for and take the exam. How is she doing this? She created a binder of CCRN review materials and placed it in the staff lounge to visually encourage our nurses to begin their CCRN certification journey. She also encouraged them to attend the online CCRN review.

Passion for Teaching, Empathy, Care, and Compassion: She has a passion for teaching and a genuine desire to inspire ICU nurses to learn. In my personal experience, she is the second critical care clinician I have worked with who teaches with compassion. With her, learning is more meaningful and less stressful, so you do not dread/fear participating in the annual competencies. She does not make you feel less than anyone else when she teaches. She is a compassionate educator who motivates nurses to learn. Her influence on all of us in the ICU extends beyond her teaching role through actively engaging the learners in their education and her active involvement in our unit engagement activities. She actively seeks ways to enhance her teaching method. She is selfless and always puts the team’s needs before her own. She knows when to brighten someone’s day and loves to bring treats for the team. She is the first to jump in to celebrate all our accomplishments. She is a Golden Pineapple Award recipient.

Dedication and Commitment to Unit Outcomes: Andrea is also instrumental in designing, planning, and implementing all projects and initiatives to improve our outcomes. She provided education prior to the implementation of the turning teams, fall prevention, hand hygiene, and MDRPI prevention. The hand hygiene project was accepted for poster presentation at the West Palm Beach AACN Annual Conference and at the Nursing Consortium of Florida Fall Conference, which was held in Pembroke Pines, Florida, on November 14, 2024. The Hand Hygiene Project was awarded as one of the best five posters presented during the NCOF Fall Conference. In addition, three projects (turning teams, hand hygiene, and fall prevention) have been accepted for poster presentation in the upcoming 32nd National Evidenced Best Practice Conference in Iowa in April 2025. These poster presentations are proof of the successful project implementation and improvement of outcomes for our team. Andrea is also instrumental in the preparation of our Beacon application, which entailed weekly meetings and document writing.

Leadership and Mentorship: She serves as a leader and mentor to all ICU nurses, fellow clinicians, and nurses in other departments. She is an example of professionalism, integrity in her work, and compassion in one. She instills in us the values and ethics which serve as the backbone of our nursing profession. She mentors fellow clinicians to support them in their respective roles. She serves as the covering clinician in the absence of the 3 East clinicians and is instrumental in the onboarding of new clinicians in other departments.

Flexibility and Adaptability: Andrea is always available to the team. She comes in during the day, at night, and on weekends. Even at 3 am, she answers emails. She is the first to jump in when an extra hand is needed, including responding to codes, taking patients when needed, making sure the unit is ready for anything, coaching and guiding the team, and supporting/managing leadership. She is the first one to lend a hand to turn or prone our patients, to help our nurses and CPs care for the patients. She flexes her time to make sure our day and night shift staff members get the same level of education and support from her. She is the last one to leave every day as she never compromises, devoting her time to the team despite her many responsibilities at work and at home. She is always ready to stretch for everyone, from covering other units, participating in universal onboarding, and participating in several committees, and yet she never misses a deadline. She never says “No” when asked for help. There is no need to ask her for help as she always anticipates others’ needs. To sum it up, she is the best friend you would hope to have at work.