The resource nurse program started last year in 2023. Nick was one of the first people to volunteer for this new role. The job duties were loosely defined as someone who aids in the development of the bedside nurse, but there was really no specification as to how this was to be achieved. Nick made the role his own and set the standard for resource nurses in the hospital. Not only does Nick round on the floor to help the nurses identify at-risk patients, but he also gets to know them as individuals and learns more about their growth and development opportunities. For example, a nurse on the observation floor had never completed a straight catheterization, so Nick made it a point to search through the hospital and find an opportunity for the nurse to perform this skill on another unit, an opportunity she would not have had he not been there. 

Nick is not only concerned with the development of nurses but also takes opportunities to further develop his skill set so he can positively impact change. Nick was the first resource nurse to take a class on ultrasound-guided IV insertion and is now orienting his colleagues on the process to improve patient care and satisfaction. He has created an environment where nurses feel supported in asking for his help and can expand on their knowledge in a judgmental-free, safe space, as well as an environment where continued growth and education are something that everyone should strive for. 

His next step is to compile common practice deficiencies he sees throughout his rounds to share with the nursing education department to ensure that the skills taught in annual competency are skills that the nurses actually need help with. Nick is supportive, knowledgeable, and collaborative, all things that are important for a resource nurse, mentor, and informal educator, and all reasons why I believe he deserves this award.