Every morning when I arrive, I check the assignment board and when I see Melinda's name I know that it will be a good day, even though it may be ugly and chaotic on the unit, I can count on her attitude and energy to get the entire unit through it. She has laughed off frustration, not given in to disrespectful patient attitudes, she has dealt professionally with demanding MDs and staffing issues. She comes in ready to go and gives it her all throughout the entire shift. She also makes herself available on her days off to come in if needed.
As charge she is constantly making sure the staff for the current and next shifts are appropriate to the skill mix we have even if it means making changes to the existing assignments. She also makes sure that each nurse is handling their assignment well throughout the day as she checks on us many times and will help pass meds or get someone up here and there, and this is while she has her own patient assignment. I don't understand how she does it so I asked her once and she said we have to help each other make it through the day. We could all be upset and angry but it's easier when we smile or laugh about it and support each other.
Melinda loves her patients and despite the obstacles we all experience to patient care delivery, her patients still receive excellent care and I have had many tell me that they enjoyed having her as one of their care givers. I have also heard the nurses on this unit state that they really enjoy working with her. She is just all-around a lovely person.