I had not worked on the floor in a while, and I was doing my first night shift in over a year. In the morning, after receiving a new admission, it became clear that I was in over my head with the tasks I needed to do and the time I had remaining in my shift to complete them.

Lauren, always efficient, had her patient load well under control. She realized that I was sinking (probably before I did) and started asking, “What can I do?” I would give her a task, and I would continue to work. When she was done with the task, she returned, “What can I do next?” For well over an hour, she gave meds, made beds, called providers, and helped with a patient who had pulled out her dobhoff tube.

Lauren made what could have been a really frustrating situation so much better – and she did it without me having to ask. She cares for her patients with competent compassion, but her “no one sits down until we all sit down” attitude makes her an extraordinary co-worker.