I was a very scared baby nurse who just graduated nursing school in the midst of a global pandemic. My faith in myself and my skills were low. I was so terrified to step out into the real world of nursing, as I had always been pretty shy. It wasn’t easy finding a job at the time but lo and behold finally a floor was willing to give this baby nurse a shot.

On my first day on the floor I get told I was being paired up with someone who hadn’t trained in a while but needed a break from being a charge nurse, you can imagine how nervous that made me feel. I’m pretty sure I barely said a word that first night in training. However, this didn’t stop Michelle in the slightest from taking me under her wing and protecting me, and teaching me as her own. She showed me everything it takes to be a nurse with TRUE compassion. With each patient, she took her time to make them feel safe after huge surgeries. If someone was super sick she took the time to just be there with them and make them as comfortable as possible. She knew how to get the job done quickly but still make each and every single patient feel special like they are worth her time. She cared for everyone with such grace in the time I trained with her, and still shows that same care as a charge nurse today.

I can honestly say I truly am the nurse I have become today 2 years later even on a different unit because of how wonderful and caring Michelle was and is today. She was able to break me out of my shell and provide me with the skills to make me a caring, confident nurse. I couldn’t thank her enough for being the best preceptor one could ever ask for. She truly is such an amazing person and an even better nurse. If anyone is deserving of any recognition it’s definitely her.