I recently floated to this unit for the first time and ended up having a patient whose condition continued to worsen over several hours of my shift. Overwhelmed with providing the necessary medical care for the patient and keeping the patient’s upset husband calm, I began to have difficulty managing my time. Angela, who was in charge and also had their own pod of patients that night, didn’t hesitate to help me.

She physically sat down with me to learn more about my patient who was struggling and helped devise and prioritize a list of tasks that needed to be done for them. Angela then worked with me to complete these patient care tasks, while simultaneously contacting other hospital staff to come help insert ultrasound IVs and speak with the patient’s husband, among other things.

When Angela and I spoke later, I learned that they were an even newer nurse than I am. Given the high level of clinical expertise, concern for the patient, and confident leadership she demonstrated during this very stressful night, her relative inexperience in terms of time is not something I ever suspected. She also treated me with nothing but kindness and respect, and I could not have asked for a better charge nurse to guide me during a tough shift! I look forward to continuing to work with Angela. They undoubtedly have a bright future in nursing.