Carolyn has shared both through her journal as well as through conversations with her peers during educational sessions, the tremendous impact the PICU has had on her both as a student nurse and as a person. Carolyn shared how a life-changing situation has made her look at her entire career in nursing differently. Carolyn has been attentive and always willing to share during weekly education sessions. Additionally, the feedback from the nurses in the PICU has been overwhelmingly positive. G shared this story about Carolyn:

There are many days when the PICU is a place of heartache and pain. The PICU staff cared for an extremely difficult case. A beautiful 6-year-old girl suffered fatal complications from routine surgery. Her fathers made the selfless decision to donate her organs to allow her spirit to live on. During her last day before donation, she had countless family and friends come to visit, pay their respects, and say goodbye. The child’s 8-year-old sister was among them and spent most of the day in the PICU to be near her sister. Carolyn was one of our summer nurse externs working that day, and we cannot be more appreciative or proud of her. Carolyn spent hours keeping the sister occupied and gave her the devoted attention that was desperately needed at that time. She made bracelets and practiced dance moves, and every time I walked by, the sister was smiling and laughing. Carolyn went above and beyond, and I believe her comforting presence made a difference during this horrible time of grief. K was the primary nurse that day and said she could not have survived that day without Carolyn.