Carla Franklin is the definition of the type of nurse you would want taking care of you or a loved one on even your worst of days. She is compassionate, encouraging, hardworking and most importantly the strongest advocate for her patients. She recently switched from dayshift to take on the next few months helping out as a team leader position on nightshift. She did this without prompt due to staffing complications & her truest desire to help others. There is never a time where a call light goes off or a team member calls out for help that Carla is not immediately jumping into action.

Carla is a true problem solver to her core and instead of complaining (I have never once heard her complain which, as nurses, we all can agree that’s impressive), rather she somehow always remains goal-oriented and positive. She sits on many council boards, and she is currently working on creating a quality improvement tool not only for our unit, but the hospital in general to use as a way to improve acuity-based patient assignments. As a new grad only six months in, I have struggled immensely with the learning curve post-nursing school, time management, and just how hard it truly is to be a nurse. Carla not only takes the time out to help me, but truly makes sure I’m understanding the why and what ifs behind anything I am struggling with. I seriously could write a novel of 1000 reasons why Carla deserves this. She is the nurse you want taking care of you or your loved ones on your worst days, because not only will you be well looked after medically but holistically and whole-heartedly as well by Carla Franklin. I hope to be half the nurse she is one day.