Erin is a role model for her peers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She is professional, kind, caring, and knowledgeable. She is the calmest person in a challenging situation, and she uses her calmness to help direct others during stressful situations. Last week Erin was "transitioning" a newly delivered newborn in our NICU. The newborn was having some respiratory issues and needed to be followed in the NICU. The mother was in the Recovery Room after her C-section, and unable to be with her newborn. After the newborn was deemed "stable" and could be transferred back to the newborn nursery, Erin noted that the newborn was "rooting" (wanting to breastfeed). Erin took the newborn to its mother who was in the Recovery Room and helped the newborn to breastfeed for the very first time. Then Erin went to the newborn nursery to give the Charge Nurse report. Erin could have given report first and left the Admission Nurse to help the mother, but Erin wanted the newborn and mother to be together and knew that the newborn was ready to be breastfed. Erin put her patient first. Erin stayed with the mother and newborn to ensure the comfort of the mother and newborn with their experiences of breastfeeding and bonding.
I could tell you hundreds of stories about Erin's critical thinking skills, but I would have hundreds of pages to share with you. Erin is the nurse that new and seasoned nurses go to for help with challenging situations or problems. She is "the calmness in the storm" during a crisis situation. If a 23-week gestation newborn is being born, then you want Erin in the Delivery Room with you.