On this day my husband was going in for a procedure. The acuity on the unit was high and the RN Melinda was no different than any other day. She is always a true leader with excellent communication skills. She provides help to her team/colleagues whenever she is able. Her patients and our team are lucky to have her. She shows her patients compassion. She listens, never rushing away no matter how busy. Each patient is individualized, it’s easy to see her heart is in the right place when caring for others, she goes above and beyond.

On this special occasion, we had medication to administer, a board to keep track of, supplies to be ordered and obtained, short-staffed and extremely chaotic like most days. These things don’t seem to cause her to get flustered. She offers her patients the little extras that may seem minute to some is seen as a gesture for starting a meaningful connection and it allows for trust building and respect.

She not only educates her patients with the medical knowledge she takes her time to explain and is accountable for what she provides for them and her team. To me this shows excellence in her skill set as a nurse and as a role model.