Kaela exemplifies what it means to be a nurse here at Fresno Surgical Hospital, and she is a great asset to our organization. I have had the opportunity to work alongside Kaela as she has taken on a variety of roles within our department. Whether it has been bedside, serving as lead RN, cross-training in another department, or serving on our UBT, Kaela excels in every role.

Not only does she excel at fulfilling each role, but she also upholds the standards of providing the best patient care and gives 100% in everything she does. Utilizing her knowledge, nursing judgment, and patient assessment skills, she is able to effectively and efficiently identify patient needs; she then effectively utilizes her findings to provide prompt and proper care for the patient. Kaela approaches patient care with the idea that you are treating the patient as a whole and does so by treating each patient with compassion and respect, effectively communicating with all staff involved, and taking the initiative to make sure the patient’s goals and needs are met.

As her nursing supervisor, I have been able to consistently rely on her skills, communication, and time management, especially during our busiest times. Her unwavering commitment to our team shines through every day, most notably lately, with her flexibility in changing her shifts or picking up extra shifts. One time in particular, after working a partial day shift, she didn't hesitate to volunteer and come back at 1:30 in the morning to help out our NOC shift, which was very short-staffed. She is one of our most fine and highly respected nurses, always going above and beyond for our patients and co-workers.

Kaela is a natural leader who fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment. Her ability to mentor and guide her co-workers has been instrumental in nurturing a culture of continuous learning and improvement within our department. She never hesitates to step in to help a coworker and build team morale, all while having a calm, respectful, and approachable demeanor. She is seen by many as a valuable resource and role model. At any given time, Kaela knows everything about every patient on our floor because she makes it a point to be actively involved with each patient to ensure they are receiving the best care. In fact, on many occasions, her name specifically is mentioned in patient thank you letters. Her value to our department is not something that is bound to just words but has to be seen in action; you will never see her sitting because she is always lending a helping hand or listening ear. I couldn't think of another nurse for this award who truly encompasses what this award and Fresno Surgical Hospital values: exceptional patient care, respect, compassion, excellence, teamwork, ethics, and integrity.

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Compassionate, efficient, and a role model. These are the words that come to mind when Kaela is providing patient care. Without hesitation and regardless of whether it’s her patient or not, she jumps right in to answer call lights or assist her coworkers with their patient care needs. Kaela uses her sense of humor, RN skill set, and her true understanding of our mission to make sure all of our patients are heard, even our most challenging patients.

One of her greatest qualities is her calm and encouraging demeanor to reassure patients of their recovery when they’re at a vulnerable time. Additionally, Kaela serves as a role model when balancing her own patients with her role as lead RN. She will juggle having her own patients while doing bed management for admits, plus helping her coworkers with their patients, all of which is done flawlessly without skipping a beat or any complaints. This is supported by not only my observation but also her name being mentioned by many of our patients in a positive manner. Kaela exemplifies what it means to be kind, build relationships, ensure a safe and high-level patient experience, and be a leader.