As a student, Lisa goes above and beyond in her clinical work. As her instructor for acute care clinical, I had the opportunity to observe Lisa being an outstanding colleague to her fellow student nurses and nurses on the unit. For instance, one morning before clinicals had started (so around 0620 am), a nurse needed help cleaning up a patient. I asked if anyone would be happy to help the nurse, Lisa immediately got up without hesitation to help the nurse - even though it would set her behind for getting her own nursing assignment.

Lisa also actively sought out opportunities to help her fellow classmates when she had downtime. In her clinical reflections, Lisa was always thorough, she expressed humility and appreciation for her clinical learning, and was always able to translate her clinical experience into how she hoped to provide care as an RN. Lisa actively sought out patients who might be considered difficult and cared for them with compassion and openness, where others may have harbored judgement. For instance, I observed Lisa provide care to a homeless patient who struggled with mental illness and addiction. Lisa approached this patient’s care from a standpoint of empathy and advocacy. This patient also was known to have some challenging behaviors. She not only spent extra time with the patient, but she also provided the patient space to share their story and concerns. Throughout her clinical experience, I was impressed with Lisa's professionalism, kindness, and competence. I hope she is recognized for her efforts and commitment to being a nurse of excellence.