Monica is exceedingly dedicated to her profession and it shows in her commitment to patient safety and experience. This year, she has stood out as someone who cares for her patients beyond the capacity that she is able to on her shift alone. She attended a conference on psychological first aid and then brought back that experience to her peers by presenting at a staff meeting. She shared her concerns with not only noticing stress injuries in patients/families but also in oneself and one's peers. Monica has also worked on moral distress rounds and ethical issues which tie in well with this field. She has met with other healthcare providers in the community to discuss methods to increase resiliency and has a good momentum toward building a team on our floor to strengthen and rely on each other in times of crisis. She is someone who cares for everyone around her and is constantly giving of herself to support others.
Beyond the hospital, she also volunteered for local and international initiatives to support pediatric health on a global level. She recently got back from a mission to China where she delivered post-op care to children after cleft lip and palate surgeries.
She is frequently recognized by families as going above and beyond as their nurse. They feel cared for, safe, and heard when she is their nurse. She spends a lot of time in patient's rooms on comfort measures, as well as educating and communicating the plan of care so that caregivers can be active participants in the healing process. Even if it's something simple like doing a patient's laundry, her actions help make the patient's stay more tolerable. Monica stands out as being an excellent care provider. She is an invaluable asset to our patients, unit, hospital, and community and we are lucky to have her.