Lorraine is a dedicated RN who provides quality care to her patients. She is a true patient advocate committed to patient safety, approaching nursing in a holistic manner and providing care in mind, body and spirit. She excels in caring for her patients often forming bonds with the patients who require multiple procedures. This helps reduce the patient and his or her family's anxiety level preoperatively contributing to positive patient outcomes. She talks with her patients preoperatively about their family, friends, work and hobbies providing a diversion from the apparently hectic and chaotic medical and technical activities occurring. When patients return for additional burn procedures, she will talk to the patient about subjects she previously discussed making the patients feel special and important, which also reduces their anxiety.

Lorraine has developed innovative techniques to position severe patients helping to prevent further loss of skin integrity secondary to pressure. She is cognizant of her patient's individual needs, communicating her concerns and suggestions to the physicians adjusting her plan of care accordingly. She is an excellent communicator and has indispensable skills, coordinating patient care with other teams and departments while keeping the patient's needs the focal point. Lorraine is also cost conscience, opening only items necessary for the procedure. She also encourages the staff to recycle skin staplers. Skin staplers are included in surgical packs. Staplers that will not be used for the procedure can be handed off before a patient enters the room. These staplers can then be used for dressings without adding cost to the patient.

In addition to her exemplary nursing skills, Lorraine precepts and mentors novice nurses and surgical technicians to the burn and oral maxillofacial services providing guidance and knowledge to help them succeed in these services. She mentors new nurses helping them in their transition to OR nursing, a topic and skill set not taught in nursing school. She is also an exceptional role model for technologist students rotating through the OR. She teaches and explains skills and concepts to the students in a clear and concise manner helping to provide a positive experience.

She has also been instrumental in helping me develop an orientation skills check list for burn service and a self-leaning module for burns. She has also volunteered to conduct a burn/trauma skills lab and provides in-services on the care of the burn victim.

She is a warm, welcoming nurse who provides exemplary care to patients and is a great mentor and teacher. She truly exemplifies OR nursing in her work ethic and care for her patients.