Nicole is the nurse that admitted me and then the nurse who helped me during the bulk of my labor. I liked her right off the bat because of her cheerful attitude and her kind and easygoing demeanor. After being admitted, I went to mother/baby for 2 weeks before coming back to labor and delivery to be induced. After a full day of Pitocin and laboring, Nicole walked in to have the handoff from the night shift nurse, and at the same moment, my water broke on its own. She was precepting a new nurse, and they both jumped in without missing a beat to help me get cleaned up and get started on the (MUCH) more intense labor. I wanted to try a natural birth, and Nicole was very respectful of that while still going over my options with me and putting my mind at ease when the labor became too painful for me to continue without any pain relief. When the anesthesiologist was unable to get there right away, she helped me talk through the other options as well and was quick to get me something else to help ease the pain. Her shift ended as it was time for me to push, and the next morning, she came to labor and delivery to check on me and was able to meet my brand-new baby boy. Nicole is one of the many, many wonderful nurses I met while there, but she may have been one of my favorites. It takes a special kind of person to work in labor and delivery and watch women push their bodies to the absolute limit every day, and I personally know how easy it is to become burnt out and experience compassion fatigue while working in the medical field. It’s easy to become indifferent when you see it regularly, but Nicole had so much compassion and a calming presence that it was easy to feel cared for and relaxed even while going through what was possibly the least relaxing thing I’ve ever experienced. I definitely think Nicole is one of the best nurses I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.