Throughout my 11 years in nursing, I have encountered so many different nurses. Great ones and ones that just get by. I have never met anyone who truly embodied what nursing is about until I met Sheridan. Sheridan was my preceptor. I met her on the very first day in DOSC. She was a travel nurse who just signed on as staff. I could tell right away that nursing is not just a career for her, it's a passion. Every patient and family member she encounters, she treats as if they were family. After spending time with the patient, she came to know them, from their life story to easing their fears about the surgery.

I had the pleasure of working with her on a weekend shift; she was preparing a teenage boy for ankle fracture surgery. We noticed the mother was pacing nervously and had a defeated look on her face. The surgeon arrived and spoke to the mother inside the room. When the surgeon walked out, she informed us that the mother had just lost her 6 month old child a few days ago and now her oldest is heading to surgery. Sheridan sprang into action by grabbing a box of tissues and sat with the mother, letting her express her feelings. When the patient was rolled out of the room for surgery, Sheridan allowed the mother to stay in the room to collect herself. The mother asked if Sheridan could speak to her some more, and after a few minutes of conversation, the patient's mother stated, "God brought you here today for me to meet because I needed to speak to someone about what is going on. Things that my family doesn't understand." Sheridan even walked the parent back to the room so she could shower and take a nap until her son got out of surgery. 

When the patient went to recovery, Sheridan went to check on them and when the mother's battery died she searched the entire unit for another charger. It's rare to find a nurse who goes above and beyond for patients; sometimes, we get preoccupied with our tasks and focus on completing them. Sometimes we forget that the patient in front of us is not just a patient, but also a person who is here with us during the most vulnerable moment of their life. Sheridan treats every patient she encounters with respect and compassion. She inspires and educates every nurse that she precepts or works with. She has received numerous DAISY nominations from patients and their families, and has won numerous awards since becoming a staff member at Ochsner. Sheridan inspires me to become a better nurse and even a better person.