Stevy is the definition of what a charge nurse should be. She is always flying around the department checking on staff. She is there to help everyone when staff are drowning in different tasks. She is there for emotional support when dealing with difficult situations. She treats everyone the same, no matter the situation. I remember a time when I was dealing with a very sick patient who ended up going to the ICU due to sepsis from C. Diff. Every time Stevy saw me going into that patient's room, she came with me if she could. When I thanked her, she stated, "no one should have to go through that alone." This shows how constantly attentive Stevy is to what is going on in the department so that she can provide extra support when needed. This allows Stevy to observe needs in the department and fill them. Even if that means taking an entire zone of patients while she's charging. She is constantly encouraging staff to improve or continue hard work in all aspects of nursing. She is there to remind you that you're doing a great job. She is there to push you to step out of your comfort zone while also standing by your side to help ensure staff and patient safety.

Recently, I was in a code with a new graduate nurse. This was the nurse's first time running the code. Stevy stood there right in the room to make sure she could do tasks and make sure nothing was being missed. She allowed the new graduate nurse to run the room without stepping in unless needed. After the critical situation was over, Stevy checked on all staff that were involved. She gave the new graduate nurse a hug, especially since that nurse helped the family go through a world wind of emotions. She also sent that new graduate an email telling her how well she did. This instills confidence in the new nurses to feel encouraged when they are in a critical situation. She cares for all, not just patients but their family and especially her staff. Stevy always is spending any of her extra time listening to her staff to help improve things around the department. She even takes time to get to know her staff. She asks about things they like or how life is at home. Stevy appreciates real relationships. Stevy will never make you feel unsafe or unappreciated while at work. Stevy is not afraid to stand up tall for all her staff. I cannot tell you the number of times I have seen Stevy go into a patient's room who is being aggressive to de-escalate the problem. She truly values teamwork, integrity, accountability, and dignity. All attributes that improve patient outcomes as well as keeping staff morale. 

When you come to the Emergency Department when Stevy is charging, you will find a team that is working hard together as a strong unit to care for all patients. This is because of the trust and strength Stevy instills in her staff.

Working in the Emergency Department is a different type of nursing. Patients continue to keep coming in to be seen even when we start running out of resources to care for them. We must often get very creative during high-volume situations. We must work very hard to ensure patient safety while patients are waiting for a room to become available. Stevy works night shift. Oftentimes, we can be short-staffed and not have enough nurses to staff all our rooms so that patients can be seen. Stevy does a great job of recognizing this and helping flow. Stevy has a very calm demeanor. She is great at helping staff remain calm during any overwhelming situation. She is a breath of fresh air in a stressful environment.