Leo always goes above and beyond to provide the best care possible for all of the patients on the unit, not just hers. When she is Rapid Response Nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit without a patient of her own, she goes around to all the nurses and offers to help with baths for their patients. She is known for washing their hair and sticking around for an extra 10 minutes to braid girls' hair and make them look nice. Her motto is "You look good, you feel good," and she truly lives by that with her patient care. She stocks blankets, hair bands, stickers, and clothes in her locker to give to patients on the unit to give them a little sense of normalcy while in the hospital. Leo is the nurse whom everyone on the unit aspires to be like.
Recently, she took on a primary patient with a complicated diagnosis who required involved care for many months. Leo's patient, with a terminal illness, spent months in the PICU with little to look forward to each day. This 6-year-old child was afraid to open up to any hospital staff after being poked and prodded so many times during his stay. Leo was able to gain his trust through the bond she created with him. She turned little things into deals with him to make his day. She made a sticker reward board for doing things that he hated to do - things as little as turns, mouth care, bath time. He looked forward to picking stickers out for his board each time. This patient was stuck in his hospital room in the PICU for months, unable to go outside. Leo made him an artistic sun and moon for days and nights to help with delirium. She worked hard to get him on a schedule to make each day meaningful and new. While able, Leo went out of her way to make sure that he got to go on a wagon ride around the unit for a change in scenery.
Leo gave him a nickname of "Oso Pequeno" meaning "little bear" in Spanish because every time she asked him to smile he growled at her. It turned into a game where she would say his nickname and he would growl for her. She brought light into his life in such a sad time for him. Leo sat at his bedside when he couldn't calm down and read books to him. In his last few days alive he actually requested for Leo to read to him at night instead of watching movies with his dad. He found comfort in having Leo with him. She made the biggest difference in this little boy's life in his most difficult times. She also attended care conferences on her days off and spoke up for him in these conferences when ethical dilemmas arose. She gained the family's trust to be able to speak truthfully to them without being hurtful. She cared so deeply for her patient and only wanted what was best for him. Leo stuck with him in the most difficult of times when other primary nurses became burnt out from the emotional fatigue and moral distress of caring for him.
Leo has also taken on the initiative to improve the PICU for patients and staff. She has taken on the responsibility of improving the bereavement process for families by leading the bereavement committee and creating a formalized bereavement toolkit. She also recognized an increase in the nurse turnover rate and is now working on a nursing fellowship project for nurse retention in the PICU and pediatric float pool. She has boosted the morale of the unit by creating a "PICU Positivity Plaza" board which allows staff members to post pictures of themselves and their interests outside of work.