Maria's positive "moments" in nursing... as an RN she has over 25 years' experience as a charge nurse and resource to the team she works with. Maria coordinates care, admissions, and communications between department, MDs and Med/surg units. This turns into easing capacity by bringing patient in from the Med/Surg units. Maria is diligent with staffing, looking at resources and coordinating skills to patient assignments. Maria also is hands on, assisting her "team" during her shift to assure that the team can get their breaks. Often I hear her saying" Go eat, I'll watch your patients". Which then delays her own lunch break, but this is Maria, taking care of her team before herself.

Maria is an advocate for our patients, every one of them. She attends the round meeting and representing the nursing team and patient, which is immensely important when it comes to discharge planning and caregiver/family support.

Maria is an RN dedicated, skilled and forever giving of her time and knowledge to those she with.

...

We have a Samoan patient in our Neuro ICU who was recently in IPR and discharged to home. He has a new bleed and his family is discussing options for d/c. Maria had helped translate in the past as the patient's children speak mainly English and his wife speaks mostly Samoan and very little English. Today discussing discharge options, I offered to use the language line for his wife. She only wanted Maria. I know Maria had her own tasks on her unit but took the time to talk to the patients' wife and help her to understand the importance of getting the patient therapy before his family takes him home to care for him. Marie took time out of her lunch which she didn't have to do.

I really appreciate Maria taking the time to talk to the patients' wife. It made all the difference for her in helping her make decisions about his rehab. There truly was a language/comprehension barrier for the wife.