It is hard to describe just one instance in which Ashley has positively affected a family's NICU journey. As a former NICU parent herself, Ashley knows what it is like to experience the NICU on both sides, and it absolutely shows in her nursing care every single time she comes to work. She is always learning and striving to know more about our specialized patient population and the obstacles that they face. She is detail oriented and meticulous, noting even the slightest changes in clinical status and trends. She has a vast knowledge in caring for neonates, which is exemplified in her dual certifications that she holds, both C-NIC and C-ELBW. This makes her an important asset to our team, and a valuable resource to those around her. She also enjoys having students and pouring her love of the NICU into the next generation of nurses. She has also volunteered much of her time to care for our bereavement families through taking classes and partnering with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep to provide bereavement photography for families that experience the loss of a child. Even throughout the pandemic, she willingly went to higher need areas in our facility to help our over-worked nurses in the adult ICUs, all the while trying to learn as much as she could so that she could be as much help to them as possible.

And while all those things are often described as making a great nurse, for Ashley it is only the beginning. For not only is she smart, skilled, and strong clinically, but she also excels at "The Art" of nursing. She puts her heart into everything that she does. It shows in the way she talks to, touches, and comforts our babies. It shows when she talks to parents, taking the time to explain why their baby is with us and not with them, taking her time to listen, empathize, and educate. It shows when she acknowledges the pain and fears that come with having a baby in the NICU and celebrating even the smallest milestones. Because to those parents, they are big milestones. You can see it in the details when you look at the neat, clean environment that her patients are in because she knows if a parent sees chaos, they will feel chaos. And if they see peace, they will feel peace. You see it in the extra steps that she takes to make sure that mom is involved in the care of her baby and that she still feels like the mom, and not a witness to someone else caring for her child. It shows in the notes, cards, and artwork that she creates for the parents from their baby, because she knows every minute the parents spend away from their baby, they are wondering how they are and what they might be missing. Even in the worst of situations, Ashley is excellent at caring for our bereavement families. She is passionate about ensuring that these families receive the best care that we can give. She is mindful in her acknowledgment of the baby's life, and of the heaviness of the loss. She is purposeful in giving the parents the time and experiences with their baby that they will cherish and remember for a lifetime. And she always calls our babies by their name, even in death.

Ashley exhibits our Core Values every time she comes to work, but her Passion for Excellence is by far her shining quality. She strives to be excellent while expecting excellence from others as well. Her Respectful Compassion is evident every time she walks through our doors, whether she is dealing with a patient, family, or another employee, she cares for everyone. She is a strong and reliable team member exemplifying Deep Interdependence, including her love of teaching and nurturing our future nurses. Even her Responsible Stewardship can be witnessed in both the little things, like turning off the lights in empty rooms, and in the big things like making sure we are doing everything we can to grow and heal our babies so they can go home with their families. She makes our NICU team better and stronger. She is an excellent example of what a well-rounded nurse looks like. She is a master of both the Art and the Science of Nursing. She has affected me as a person, and by her example, she has changed and challenged me to be a better nurse. I would love to see her recognized, not only for the care she gives to our babies but also for the immeasurable impact that she is making on the lives of our NICU families and others around her. She will likely never know how far-reaching the ripples of her care will go, but she shows up and pours her heart into her calling every day, every time, and with every interaction. Our lives and our organization are better because she is here, and for that, we should all be thankful.