Talk with anyone who has worked with Natalie, and you will hear a common theme. "She is so happy all the time!" "She is so bubbly!" "I just love working with her!" Natalie has a genuine smile for everyone and a positive attitude that influences everyone around her. She finds ways to bring joy to patients and families dealing with difficult circumstances. Not only does she do this with compassion, but she makes the experience fun for the children at their developmental level.

One excellent example of the type of care she provides happened the evening she took care of a school aged boy in respiratory distress. He was very anxious, irritable, and did not want to wear an oxygen mask or nasal cannula. Natalie explained to him, in age appropriate language, why he needed to wear one of the two and then came up with a creative incentive for him. She promised him that he could squirt her with a "hospital squirt gun" if he successfully put on the nasal cannula, and again in the morning if he kept it on all night. Natalie then got out a clean syringe and filled it with water. Her "hospital squirt gun" was not just any little syringe but the largest syringe we stock in the hospital.

Her patient had been bawling, but when he saw the gigantic "hospital squirt gun" his tears quickly stopped. Soon he was laughing hysterically as he watched Natalie jump around in circles as he soaked her from all angles. Not only did it change his attitude toward wearing a necessary medical device, but it put him at ease with the rest of the staff. The remainder of his stay at the hospital and the way he interacted with staff could be attributed to Natalie resourcefulness.

It's obvious to anyone who has the chance to observe Natalie at work that she loves her job. She genuinely exemplifies Children's nursing values. Her positive attitude is contagious. We are fortunate to have her as a nurse at Children's!