As a float nurse, I never know what kind of assignment I am going to encounter when caring for patients on PICU. Every time I float to PICU and take a patient assignment from Lauren I know that I am in good hands. As a new grad I still have so much to learn. More than once I have taken an assignment from Lauren, who was the night shift nurse, and she has made sure that I understood everything that was going on with the patient. If there was equipment I was unfamiliar with (such as an EVD) she would take the time to carefully explain it to me and how it works.

This morning she got a patient who was transferred from an outside hospital right at shift change which was given to me. When I came on shift the patient had started to decline. Mom had just walked in and needed updated. It was almost 745 in the morning at this point and mom did not speak English. I had two other patients and Lauren took it upon herself to help get the patient settled and to go in an update mom on everything that was happening even though she had already given me report. All of this care she put into my patient put her well off past the end of her shift. She didn't hesitate for one second to jump in and do all of the care for the patient and to make sure mom understood what was going on. She also offered to start one of my meds for this patient so I could check on my other two kiddos before going back in. I knew that my patient was in excellent hands and this made it easier for me to check in on my other patients and give them my full attention.

Lauren's dedication to her patients and quality patient care is outstanding. It doesn't matter if its the end of her shift, she ensures her patients get all of the time they need. She is also an advocate for her patients to get the best care possible. She is a shining star in PICU and they are so lucky to have her as such an exemplary nurse!