Barb is a mentor to all nurses in our department. She has weathered many changes throughout her career at McLaren with grace and integrity, never compromising her ethics or morals, nor the awesome care she delivers to her patients on a daily basis. More than once she has been my "go to" person when difficult losses of patients and loved ones have occurred. She handles those conversations with families with truth, clarity and honesty. I have witnessed her gentle touch and words with patients and families. I have seen her sense of humor brighten many patients' days. She has made differences in patients' lives too numerous to count. She is always there to lend a helpful hand to the greenest of nurses to the most seasoned. She definitely defines the meaning of what we should all be striving for in nursing. She takes great pride in being a nurse and the same pride in being a nurse for McLaren Greater Lansing. She is a colleague, an advocate, a caregiver, a listening ear, a mentor, a resource, but most of all she is a friend.