Ashlyn truly took me under her wing as a new grad RN starting on an extensive unit such as NW5. I was terrified of what to expect while working on this unit, let alone how I would navigate my nursing career on my own. Not once did Ashlyn make me feel dumb or ridiculous for any question I asked. She always encouraged me to ask more and made me feel like part of the team instantly.

I once had a patient who was verbally aggressive, and she immediately came to my assistance and de-escalated the situation, never once making me feel like I had done something wrong. When I did make a mistake, she addressed it in a professional and compassionate manner, allowing me to continue coming to her with any problem, even after my orientation was complete.

Ashlyn Lanik truly exemplifies what a great preceptor is. I am always proud to say that she was my preceptor. I continuously have patients express shock when they learn I am not even at my one-year mark as a nurse. My confidence and knowledge come not only from my prior healthcare experience but also from having Ashlyn as my preceptor.

Ashlyn promotes development and advancement by knowing when to let her students "fly" on their own and when to be by their side. She immediately recognized that I needed her presence, but not constantly, as too much support would make me rely on her more than I should. She stepped back at the appropriate moments and was always only a few feet away, never too far.

As my orientation neared its end, Ashlyn stepped back as much as she felt was needed and allowed me to rely on my skills and the assistance of others. She knew this would be essential once orientation was complete, and her approach helped me transition into independent practice with confidence.