When you're doing a job correctly and doing it well, there is a good chance a lot of people won't even notice you've done anything at all. Accomplishing complicated tasks in an oftentimes busy, unpredictable work environment and doing so in a seemingly effortless manner requires a substantial amount of knowledge, resourcefulness, and skill. Michelle Poulin performs her duties in this way; she is the embodiment of competence and the paradigm of superb nursing.

What sets Michelle apart from other, besides over 15 years of bedside nursing experience, is her dedication - not only to her patients, but to her coworkers as well. She is always willing to lend a helping hand, even without being asked. She shares her wealth of expertise through her role as a critical care team lead and preceptor to countless new nurses. Sometimes she will spit out some obscure, random medical fact, which legitimately surprises me with its accuracy! Whenever our unit receives a new admission, she is immediately at the bedside assisting with bathing, gathering supplies, taking vital signs, drawing labs, and/or reviewing orders. When she is the charge nurse, I know my team and I, along with the interdisciplinary staff, will be supported. She is an invaluable resource for nursing care in general and is extremely well-informed regarding policies and protocols of our specific hospital, which is helpful when we encounter unique or unusual circumstances requiring creative, innovative solutions.

Michelle isn't someone who simply reacts to what is happening around her; instead, she is proactive and anticipates needs in advance in order to improve patient outcomes. For example, when my critical patient's blood pressure was rapidly decreasing and he was at risk of losing consciousness and potentially coding, Michelle preemptively grabbed fluids and medications and met me in the patient's room. Eventually the patient regained stability due in part to her quick thinking.

During an emergency, Michelle is the first to run toward the havoc instead of away from it. She takes pride in providing compassionate and attentive patient-centered care. When a distressed patient undergoing a difficult hospitalization mentioned he had a craving for a specific dessert, Michelle tracked down the dessert and brought it to him. When a patient who owned dogs but didn't have anyone to feed them and let them outside, Michelle traveled to the patient's house with permission to look after the dogs. She consistently goes above and beyond her basic occupational requirements, not for recognition or validation, but simply because she wants to and feels compelled to do her best at all times. She can usually be found cleaning and organizing our perpetually untidy unit, hunting down necessary equipment, and ensuring broken items are fixed in a timely manner.

In short, it is a privilege to work alongside Michelle at this facility. Her coworkers and patients are eternally grateful for her insight, judgement, and ability to navigate complex situations. She is reliable, a person you can truly count on, and her tireless commitment to providing quality care undoubtedly qualifies her for this award. I would absolutely want her to be the nurse for me, my friends, and my family.