Krystal has always been a great resource for her coworkers and especially for new nurses and students. She usually has the answer to any question, but when she doesn't, she will not stop until she finds the resource needed or a change that needs to be suggested to management.

Krystal's laugh and banter with her patients can usually be heard outside any room. I have personally seen her calm and educate patients of all ages, including holding a colicky baby to give mom a break to sit down for a long conversation about a new diabetes diagnosis. Her clinical skills at our critical access site, along with her compassion for all of her patients, are unmatched.

On one night specifically, a patient arrived unresponsive. Krystal stayed composed while clearly communicating throughout the resuscitative efforts with the other team members. After CPR was unsuccessful, Krystal made sure to encourage the family to come to the bedside and paused the team to honor the patient who had passed, as well as staying to pray with the family member. After making post-mortem arrangements, Krystal sat down with the two new family members who had shown up to walk them through what happened during the resuscitation efforts, along with plans for the next steps. About an hour after the family left, Krystal was already next door laughing with a new patient while educating them on their new insulin needs. She is able to give each individual patient and family member the specific care and compassion they need during their time in the Emergency Department.