Barb is our wound expert. She goes above and beyond to provide support for some very complicated wounds. Often this involves coming in on her days off to help troubleshoot clinical issues with nurses and the medical team. Barb applies evidence-based practice and truly is the reason behind why some of these patients recover. Along with her wound expertise, she brings a strong base of clinical acumen to promote the overall health and wellbeing of our school-aged and adolescent population. She is a strong patient advocate and will go the extra mile to help obtain the resources the patients need to heal and transition to home. Barb is a great resource for bedside nurses and includes teaching in her day-to-day activities. She is probably one of the hardest-working Nurses that I know.

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Barb has been a gentle force of wisdom with unending attention to detail for all the children in her path, but most especially for those with wounds and special needs in her past 15+ years at Ranken Jordan. Barb was an exceptional nurse even prior to attaining her NP and WOCN status. She worked tirelessly in the PICU at Cardinal Glennon and then in dialysis, running the department in later years. Her comprehensive knowledge of each patient was second to none. Since working side-by-side with Barb at Ranken Jordan, she has taken this attention to detail to patients with wounds and skin issues to greater heights. She studied diligently and passed the WOCN certification and became the first pediatric WOCN NP in MO; a certification at that time not even achieved by the NP’s working in PAWS at SLCH. She devoted her attention most importantly to RJ burn patients; becoming a direct link to the physicians at Mercy prior to the transfer of burn patients and has earned their respect as someone who communicated regularly and took outstanding care of their patients.

Barb is no-nonsense with patients regarding their care. In working with her on the many extensive burn patients seen over the years, she remains systematic in her approach and achieves amazing results. She continued to review best practices regarding dressings and care and routinely investigates and meets with suppliers on new products. Despite this reference to no-nonsense care, she can be just as playful and encouraging with the children and families once they gain her trust. Many of the burn and wound patients have been known to continuously ask, “Is Barb here today?” patients of my patients over the years have even asked me, “What would Barb do?”

Over the Easter holiday weekend, Barb was not scheduled. However, she came in on Friday after working a full day at SLCH, Saturday for 5 hours, and Easter Sunday AM to attend to an extensive wound of an adolescent male that would ask for her specifically. I found her on Easter Sunday reviewing a video in her office in an attempt to find yet another option for this wound. Her expertise and high regard for each patient has made her an exemplary NP and employee. Barb has a large family of her own, yet her attention to the Ranken Family is to be commended.

In addition to her care of patients with wounds and skin issues (I believe she began skin rounds, too) Barb is a never-ending support for therapists in her role. Her past PICU and Renal background and her attention to all things medical have been influential to NPs and MDs alike. Her wealth of knowledge is vast; what she doesn’t know, or recall is investigated. If you could bring back every patient and family member that was thankful for Barb over these past Ranken years, you would have standing room only and be unable to social distance! I have been honored to work alongside her, learn from her and watch in amazement as she truly touches lives and leaves patients and families in a much better place than when they arrived. I am humbled to have her as my colleague and friend. I honestly believe she exemplifies all that is needed at Ranken Jordan, and she is truly a DAISY Nurse.

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Barb Champion is a nurse like no other! The wound care Queen! I have seen Barb come in on her day off multiple times to help out with wound vacs. She can even be a little silly at times. A few years ago, we had a severely burned kiddo, and she would come in the treatment room singing the song Sugar by Maroon 5 and the kid thought it was hilarious! Barb is also extremely knowledgeable about wound care and is always willing to teach us nurses. Barb goes above and beyond in her work!