...Ever since Grace started as a student on the unit, she has always had such a positive attitude and has always been eager to learn. All of the staff on this unit adore her, as well as all of the patients. She loves her job and it shows. Grace is always glowing and smiling, and the patients notice. She has such a connection with all of her patients! Situations can be very chaotic and scary on this unit, but Grace is always able to calm the patient and communicate what needs to be communicated. She always seeks opportunities to learn and has always been a team player. Even if it isn't her patient, Grace is one of the first nurses to jump into help without hesitation. The entire staff knows that Grace is always there for us.

Grace, in an integral part of this unit, is a champion of patient safety. Not only is she a charge nurse, but she is a member of the Perinatal Safety CUSP team during her off time. She helps plan and takes part in the CETT drills, which are drills that simulate emergency situations on the unit. This helps prepare the staff for what to do in emergency situations and helps identify what needs to be improved. Most staff members get very anxious before participating in a drill, but Grace has eased everyone's minds and makes it such a positive experience.

I remember an emergency in particular where Grace did an amazing job helping with a patient who was not even hers. A patient had been ruptured and had been on the unit for a while. Grace had that patient before, but did not have her on the day that the emergency happened. On the day that Grace had her, she took the time to provide extensive education to the patient about what to call the nurse for and what emergency situations could potentially happen; thank goodness Grace did this! This patient ended up having a prolapsed cord, which is a true emergency and requires a stat cesarean section. This happened when the patient went to the bathroom, and the patient knew to immediately pull the emergency cord and get back in bed. The emergency light went off, and Grace was the first to enter the room. As the first responder, Grace jumped in the patient's bed and relieved the pressure off the cord until the patient was safely in the OR and the baby was about to be delivered. It was because of Grace, that this patient knew what to do. Not to mention, the patient was prepared for this, so even though it was a stat cesarean section, the patient wasn't hysterical and knew what to expect.