Karen Michalski is a RN in the PICU whom acts as a preceptor, mentor, charge nurse and resource nurse. Not only is she incredibly smart, but kind and compassionate even in the most trying of times. She is consistently a pleasure to work with, for her sense of humor, positive attitude and excellent teamwork makes what could've been a stressful shift, enjoyable.

Karen is extraordinary how she leads our unit with a kind, calm, and compassionate manner. She is intelligent with a wealth of PICU nursing experience, but knows how important it is to connect with colleges, patients and families to really make a difference in people's every day. She truly and consistently cares about her patients and fellow medical staff in a non-biased, loving manner. And Karen clearly LOVES what she does!

Karen is a respected caregiver, leader and preceptor in the PICU. She can readily apply her gifts in any PICU caregiver role including care of high acuity patients, end-of life experiences, precepting new learners, as well as relief resource and charge RN. She applies her skills with grace and poise and role models the same for others. The unit runs smoothly when Karen is in charge. She is a hard worker and detail-oriented in every role.

Karen is an outstanding leader in the PICU. She exemplifies our standards of behavior, as well as clinical expertise. She leads in an unofficial manner as a preceptor, mentor, relief charge nurse, and relief resource nurse. She provides thorough, compassionate care to her patients. Karen demonstrates the highest quality of nursing care and collaborates with the multidisciplinary team to advance the plan of care. She has taken on several difficult primary patients and her advocacy makes a tremendous difference in her outcomes. She contributes to unit wide activities and helps the unit run smoothly as a member of the scheduling committee. We are so privileged to have her in the PICU and at Children's Hospital Colorado!

Karen is a perfect example of the Children's Hospital Colorado mission and values statements. She brings these qualities to the front lines of patient care. She is humble in her overall pediatric nursing experience, has a way of caringly communicating ideas, goes above and beyond in her generosity with service to patients, families and PICU staff and is open to new and creative ideas to further educate and care for her patients and families.

She delivers exceptional family care centered care. This is not a chore or task for her. Rather, it is intrinsic to her personality, nursing care style and carried out in her daily practice with children and families. She is able to separate family conflicts from patient care and devise a plan for families that are the most vulnerable and stressed. Karen functions in a unique role---she is able to take care of any patient that rolls through the door' whether it be a septic, trauma, transplant, respiratory, non-accidental trauma or chronic care child.

Karen has been a primary nurse for many different types of patients in the PICU. She recently was a primary nurse for a patient that was in the PICU for quite some time last summer that presented with unique challenges and family dynamic issues. While difficult, Karen provided the utmost outstanding customer service qualities that I have ever witnessed. She remained poised, professional and non-judgemental in the delivery of her care. She served as a support to her other colleagues that were on the primary nurse team.

In the winter, she was a primary nurse for a patient with complex medical issues. She interfaced with the Surgery and PICU teams during his stay. She admitted him from the Operating Room and was responsible for the care that he needed during that labile time. Accolades are due to her for her exceptional care during this tenuous process! When he was transferred to the floor it was an overall joyous occasion. The patient's mother verbalized that Karen was always and will continue to be one of her favorites'. When I mentioned to the patient's mother that she had precepted other members of the nursing team that cared for her child she immediately correlated the exceptional care that Karen gave her son with teaching the other nurses how to be dynamic PICU nurses. It was a very special moment to hear that kind of positive thanks and feedback from a parent about your own coworker.

She has excellent communication, analytical and critical thinking skills. She is present on daily rounds with the PICU multidisciplinary team. Not only is she present but she is engaged in every core element of her patients' overall care plan. She is a frequent preceptor for new nurses in the PICU. This requires calmness, decisiveness and expert PICU knowledge---assessment, tasks and work flow. She possesses all of these qualities in addition to leadership, kindness and fairness. Many preceptees have mentioned to me that they enjoy her laid back style, approach to nursing care, and learning from her. Of course, with her years of nursing experience this shines through all the time to all including the seasoned PICU staff.

Karen has a wonderful and positive attitude. This is exemplified in her Relief Charge and Relief Clinical Resource roles in the PICU. She is a pillar of strength, uses clear and concise communication techniques, listens to her colleagues and makes rational and sound decisions. She has been a nurse for many, many years and never tires' of the smallest or mundane of tasks. She encourages the staff that she works with and frequently people are very happy to be near her in the unit working side by side with her for their shift! Karen is part of the PICU Scheduling Committee which can be a daunting task. Again, she is always available to help troubleshoot personal scheduling conflicts, guide new PICU staff in having a balance between work and home life and is ready to listen to critiques about the process.

Karen is constantly collaborating with the many teams that are present in the PICU. She is eager to teach residents, allows fellows to seek her out and is respected by the attendings in the PICU. Karen understands the functionality of other health care team members. She is collaborative with the respiratory therapists, clerks and the nursing assistants. This teamwork approach is appreciated and valued by her. She understands the roles of others such at the social worker, chaplain and child life specialist and the instrumental pieces that they play for her patients in the PICU setting.