A unit supervisor directly impacts the working environment of clinical nurses as unit supervisors work to achieve adequate staffing, up-to-date education, share best practices, and so on. I am nominating Melanie because as the unit supervisor in the ICU, she is in tune with her clinical nurses on many levels. She keeps an open door, an open mind, and open ears. Her interpersonal skills are such that we feel very comfortable approaching Melanie and for that reason, the unit environment is warm and welcoming. Melanie understands the importance of work-life balance and tries her best to accommodate scheduling requests.

This year, I found out past the scheduling request period that I could attend an AH mission trip to Loreto, Mexico. Melanie spoke with Pastor Urbina. As this mission trip was important for me, to be able to fill my gratitude cup, to give back as a nurse, and progress in my professional development, Melanie made the last-minute request a reality. That is just one example of how Melanie supports her many nurses as a nurse leader.

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Melanie has been a Nurse at AHWM for almost 20 years. She started here as a new grad RN. I am certain every nurse that has ever worked with Melanie would attest that Melanie is an exceptional nurse. Melanie always treats everyone with genuine kindness, patients and Associates. She is always respectful, gentle, and gives you the opportunity to speak, attentively listening to see how she can help you. Every time you finish a conversation with Melanie, you feel heard. Melanie is love.

For our patients she is a force for good, always giving high quality attention. She nurses with such attention to detail and advocacy for what our patients need. Melanie is compassionate with every patient she cares for. Her knowledge and skills are of the highest I have ever seen in a nurse. There is nothing she doesn't know. Melanie is brilliant, and yet, she is so gracious when she shares what she knows, creating an environment that fosters others to reach out to her and trust her guidance.

During the pandemic, Melanie became the greatest resource to us in the ICU. She organized the unit and patient flow to maximize our capacity. She would open, equip, stock other units with ICU level supplies and close the overflow units where we cared for the ICU patient outside the 5th floor ICU. This allowed us nurses to focus solely on nursing our patients because we knew, Melanie was ensuring we had all we needed despite the chaos going on because of COVID-19. Melanie embraces the leadership aspect of equipping us ICU Nurses to have all we need to do our patient care. Melanie's positive encouragement inspires us to be the best nurses we can be. Her eagerness to help us, whether with a patient, a hospital process, trouble-shooting a situation or our work schedule, spreads to us all and to our patients. Melanie brings a beautiful, positive light to our unit. Melanie is an exemplary nurse and leader.

White Memorial is a better place to be treated and to work in because Melanie is a Nurse Leader.