This year’s Honoree, Sara Smith, was nominated by her preceptor and nursing staff during her preceptorship rotation. The nursing staff spoke so highly of this student nurse. Some of the examples highlighted in her nomination were: “It was a pleasure to work with this student, she has so much compassion for her patients and is always eager to jump in and help out the nursing staff.”

Two events highlighted in the nomination were: “when the student followed her nursing instinct and stayed with a patient who went into cardiac arrest and prevented the patient from falling. She initiated a code blue and was by her patient’s side throughout the entire event and helped the staff in any way that she could.” This student also went above and beyond to make sure that another patient was comfortable during a painful bedside procedure, “staying later than she had to, to make sure her patient was not alone and not in pain during the procedure.” “The level of maturity and dedication that this student demonstrated during her clinical rotation was admirable. It is evident by the student’s performance that she works very hard to improve her nursing skills and studies.” Her preceptor states: “Working with this student made me a better nurse.”