It is impossible to summarize in a few words what kind of nurse Lauren Bryant is to the 4 West Unit. She is a born leader and has made countless contributions to make 4 West what it is today. She is an instrument in the facilitation of family-centered care and embraces challenges and changes with innovative strategies. Lauren's most notable quality is her leadership skills, she quickly took on the role of Charge Nurse. In this role, she continuously shows staff what it means to feel supported. Whether it be in lending a hand to grab the IV beep, helping care partners to change the bed linen or emptying a urinal (and she does with the best of the attitude), managing high patient flow and bed shortages, Lauren is the person you want at your side when times become challenging. She does whatever it takes to best support her co-workers. She never hesitates to lend a hand and to provide advice for any problematic situation. She is an awesome team leader and a strong backbone to our unit. She is a joy to be around. Her bright demeanor and ability to empathize with families, patients and coworkers is appreciated by all who work beside her. An example showcases the superb care and compassion she provides our patients and families every day.
Recently, Lauren took care of a particular patient. This little patient was under a year old when she was given a diagnosis with very little chance of survival. This patient was an only child, and for a parent, her prognosis was impossible to accept. Her parents' devastation with their child's disease started to create barriers for staff to care for their daughter, and their goals started to shift away from the goals of the interdisciplinary team. This situation was one of the most difficult situations that 4 West has been faced with in a very long time, and doctors and nurses found it extremely challenging to work with this family. Lauren helped break down the barriers between the family and the staff through meetings and many conversations. She made it a priority that this family received the highest standard of care, despite all obstacles; this commitment was instrumental in making this transition as smooth as possible. Her leadership, knowledge, family-centered approach, and innovation have shaped and impacted numerous nurses, patients, families, and the unit as a whole. I am honored to have gotten the opportunity to learn from Lauren and look to her as a role model. Lauren is an Extraordinary Nurse.