During the past few months, Laura Steiner has "stepped up her game" and is deserving of the recognition. Having completed her BSN in the spring of 2013, Laura has moved forward with her efforts for professional development. As she prepares to level up, she is also studying to take the Ambulatory Care Nurse Certification test, as well as, work full-time. To challenge those goals, she recently got married and served as the sole RN in our busy practice during my extended surgical leave. Despite these challenges, Laura has continued to move forward with her professional goals, seeking assistance from resource people as to the best way to meet the qualifications for the first time. Most recently, she provided an excellent clinical in-service at Carle on Windsor regarding PCOS. Within an hour of completion, 2 health care providers appropriately identified patients with potential PCOS to our department for further evaluation. Laura has maintained her commitment to patient advocacy and care particularly with complicated donor recipient patients. These patients rely upon Laura to make sure all of the appropriate work-up is done, status of donor matching is communicated and understanding of the emotional toll the whole process can take. These patients frequently seek Laura out afterward to share the "fruits of labor": i.e. their new child. She had received several thank you cards and photos which now adorn our department walls. Throughout the 7 years I have worked with Laura Steiner, RN, the most consistent quality she has shown is advocacy. Laura is especially gifted to work with donor recipient patients based on her objectivity and support of diverse lifestyle and parenting choices. This takes a unique individual.

In addition to her consistent skilled nursing care, including limited sonography, telephone nursing practice and documentation and insemination, Laura has given back to the community. Specifically, last fall she mentored a nursing student and served as a clinical subject for medical students in their Women's Health rotation.