I met this nurse at Charlotte Regional Medical Center, as it was then called, while I was working in critical care at night. I'm not sure if it was days or nights or coming off shift. I found her to be extremely helpful and personable. My impression of her was that she was a critical care nurse as several times she floated into our unit. She is highly motivated and mostly trained herself in critical care as she floated to us frequently. I was extremely impressed when she stated she was not an ICU nurse. She definitely held her own with some of the seasoned staff I worked with over in PG.

When the Heart Program moved off to Port Charlotte, I moved with it, and continued to beg her to come as well, and train as an open heart nurse. Of course, there was the pay issue coming over as part time, but she finally did, and I'm so glad she did. She truly has been an anchor on the night shift, as our only seasoned open heart nurse, and always goes above and beyond, in taking care of her patients. One of the staff members dubbed her Flo, for Florence Nightingale. She precepts new nurses as well as trains others to be open heart nurses. I have unfortunately begged her to come in at all times of the night on her days off, the most notable time was when a young mother coded, and I was desperate for help. Her husband had just had knee surgery that day, and she still came. She often tells us "don't call me tonight, I'm done", but she will call and check on the staff anyway, and if needed, she will come in. I am truly grateful that she chose to come and join our team, here in the Open Heart Unit.