Brandy is my preceptor and now proudly I call her my friend. She immediately assessed my learning style and eased me into my new role. This gift of intuition can't be taught. She instinctively knew when to guide me, when to let me fly, when to push me, when to support me. For those intrinsic qualities, I'd say she is more than deserving of credit for her leadership abilities.
Knowledge sharing is sometimes a difficult thing for people to do. In a field where there is occasionally a war for talent, Brandy readily shares what she knows. She isn't in a competition with anyone but herself. She is open, transparent, even, and fair. If we don't know something, we humbly own it and ask. She is a no harm, no foul thinker who makes my learning atmosphere safe. We all wish for an effective learning environment, judgment-free and accommodating, well I hit pay dirt on that one thanks to her. She is an excellent listener, communicator, negotiator, and patient advocate. She is my advocate as well. The unit climate is temperate when she is there. To say she is a champion for the betterment of her team is an understatement. Always with the patient in mind, she seeks to educate herself and me for the provision of safe care and optimal outcomes.
Skillfulness. I am the first to admit, I don't know what I don't know. Having said that, I do know what I do know. When I see someone with skill, perform the skill with emotional control, a sense of urgency, not panic, decisive and direct actions, I am flooded with feelings of awe and inspiration. Having been in this unit now for about 14 weeks, I've been witness to several urgent and emergent situations. I have observed her act with the skills I have mentioned in every single one we were involved in. She knew what to do. When I saw something was wrong at one point with one of our patients, I did not yet have the ability to apply my knowledge and react appropriately, but I trusted Brandy did. I called her and she instinctively went into action. While in the process of saving this patient's life, she calmly walked me through what to do and gently pushed me to do it. Don't panic, think, and you'll be fine, she said. Extraordinary! What presence of mind. How better to groom a future nurse than to allow her to walk right beside you and feel what the edge is like.
Patient care and relations. It takes courage to feel and even more courage to show it. I have observed her save lives, been beside her while bathing or performing procedures; been beside her for the dying patient and grieving family. I have watched her gentleness, protection, passion, professionalism, and her adept ability at invisibility. A talent no doubt her tremendous empathy has afforded her. She is what every nurse should aspire to be. I thank her for her exemplary example to me. I thank her for that patient who can't anymore, for the families whose lives are impacted by her involvement in them. I'll thank her for the blanket she bought, the hands she's held, the tears she's shed, the advocacy she provided, the encouragement she spoke, for the lives she's saved. Most importantly, I'll thank her for every moment she spent a piece of herself for the sake of another.