Laura starts her day with a smile and uplifting mood that encourages our productivity. She starts with a motivational morning huddle that turns mandatory information into encouragement to endure better patient outcomes. As a data analytic, Laura needs to remind us of our "misses" in charting or need to remove invasive lines to prevent hospital-acquired infections. She comes right to the bedside and strategizes with us to get them removed and alternatives placed.
She is able to educate not only on the risks the lines places on our patients, but the benefits of the removal and simple ways to provide the data our physicians need to diagnose and treat. When Laura's role expanded to documentation audits, she immediately started reading up on specialty certification. After a few months of intense studying, she successfully achieved her certification goal and is now an expert in this specialty. She has encouraged many to go for certification supporting them through completion, including myself.
Laura reaches across disciplines through her work on projects in the many hospital-wide and unit-based committees. When the physicians and therapists are in need of data or explanation of data she never hesitates, going past explanations with ideas on how to improve outcomes and patient and family satisfaction. Her enthusiasm for positive changes motivates us. She understands work that goes into change and does not sugar coat it. She strengthens our confidence to get it done!
I would like to share a random act of kindness from the daughter of one of our patients:
"Laura is kind, gentle, firm, funny, helpful and caring, everything you could want from a nurse. The way she spoke to my son was so personal and uplifting. We could see how much he appreciated her even though he could not really communicate".
That says so much about Laura. She takes the time to uphold the patient's dignity and offer the families support with compassion. She mentors our newest nurses on empathy, reminding us often of the patient's perspective and fears.
We are so appreciative to have Laura leading us in a positive direction, setting the example of nursing excellence.