Rook is the epitome of what a nurse should be and what we all should aspire to be. She displays exceptional leadership skills by being calm, organized and early problem solving. She is kind, caring and her compassion is overwhelming. If a patient doesn’t care for the food, Rook will go buy them what they want. When patients have celebrated their birthdays in the unit, she has brought them cake and presents. Rook has been instrumental in the success of the Cardiac Surgery Program in Guyana. She had helped to educate the Guyanese nurses and developed protocols as well as Nursing Standards of Care, based on evidence, in conjunction with the CT surgeons.

Looking around the CTICU, you can see something Rook has fixed or improved. Her enthusiasm for being a nurse is infectious. Her positive attitude and zest for always doing what’s right for the patients is inspiring to all who know her. She is a mentor and role model.

I believe the way to judge the caliber of a nurse is whether or not you would let that person care for a loved one. Rook took care of my husband after a radical nephrectomy. My husband still talks about her level of compassion, professionalism and confidence.