Mel did an excellent job advocating for a postpartum patient while she was caring for her. The patient was a mother of a baby admitted to SCN, who had many social needs, such as homelessness, lack of resources, and a history of substance abuse. I worked with Mel when she was primarily on the med/surg unit, and she was a great nurse, even then! Each time I share a patient with Mel, she exercises the critical thinking skills to look at the whole picture and practice patient-centered care. With this case in particular, Mel noticed the patient wasn’t recovering normally and escalated her concerns, thereby resulting in a post-op ileus diagnosis and treatment plan. Mel kept a close eye on the patient’s pain levels and displayed a true sense of compassion and empathy for the multi-layered social barriers the patient faced. Mel has an understanding of how trauma and addiction can impact one’s ability to function in life, and understands that perinatal substance abuse is highly stigmatized. In my experience, Mel has been amazing to work with. Thank you, Mel!