I first met Brenda when I was in orientation. I have been a nurse for 25 years on the Egleston Campus and NICU nursing was new to me. It didn't take me long to notice that even though Brenda had been a nurse for such a short amount of time that she had the compassion of a nurse who had triple her experience.

Our first patient together had been in the NICU for her entire 12 months of life. Brenda knew all her likes and dislikes and even though she was incredibly sick she made sure that all her physical and emotional needs were met. This sweet baby's mother could only visit for very short periods of time. Brenda would meet her mother each day with a run down of her daughter's day including all the things a mother would want to hear about. Each smile, coo, swat at her toys were told in great detail. The mother would leave with the feeling that her baby was in caring hands.

As my orientation ended I noticed how Brenda never sat down. When her charting was done she was constantly checking the nurses nearby to make sure they didn't need any help. She treated her coworkers just like she treated every baby she took care of with kindness and compassion. Brenda is one of the selfless nurses I have experienced throughout my career. She is the first to volunteer to work extra, chair a committee, and recently train staff in the Special Care Unit.

Brenda's empathy for her families as well as her co-worker makes the NICU at Scottish Rite shine at CHOA!