Maria Lourdes, or Malou which is our nickname for her on our unit, has been with us for more than 20 years serving as one of our main leads in our pediatric department. She not only encompasses our mission values but also has great leadership when it comes to difficult situations that may arise. She offers a helping hand to her nurses when they are struggling on the floor and also makes sure each patient feels like they are being heard and acknowledge. Her morning routine involves making a fresh pot of coffee not for herself nor for her nurses or doctors but for her patient’s parents who she knows are probably restless from staying up late taking care of their kids and helping our fellow nurses with the care of their children. Malou is not only a great leader but also a great nurse as she is always patient, understanding, and overall comforting to our fellow nurses on the floor and to our patients.
 
Malou has advocated for her nurses and also serves as a great charge nurse who demonstrates compassion and a caring nature when taking care of her patients and also her nurses. She is always lending a hand and even when she is busy she always tries to make sure her team and her nurses have the right tools to make them have a successful shift.
 
Malou is always helping around the unit and actively helping her staff to attend to patients need. She goes beyond her duties as a charge and provides excellent leadership.

Malou always extends a helping hand when a situation arises. When the unit is short staffed, she always makes sure to do tasks to help lighten the load of her shift and the incoming shift. Her dedication, knowledge, and exceptional teamwork is an inspiration to us all. Malou works above and beyond at all times. She advocates issues for her staff and we all appreciate and are grateful for all the efforts she makes. We genuinely feel that Malou cares. She's a commendable role model as a charge nurse. She is a great asset to the unit and always a pleasure to work with.