I am honored to recognize Susan for her extraordinary compassion, clinical expertise, and unwavering advocacy for her patients. Susan consistently goes above and beyond, caring for some of our most complex and vulnerable patients with empathy, courage, and innovation.

One example is her care for a long-term IMCU patient with severe physical and cognitive impairments due to childhood neglect. This patient was tracheostomized, vented, and had the mental capacity of a teenager. He was often resistant to care and emotionally volatile, with trauma triggers that could send him into a “fight or flight” state. Susan volunteered to be one of his primary nurses, helping to develop a consistent care plan that respected his boundaries and built trust. Her trauma-informed approach brought stability and dignity to a patient who had rarely experienced either.

In another case, Susan cared for a post-CABG patient whose recovery had failed. Severely deconditioned and in constant pain, the patient confided in Susan that she no longer wished to continue treatment. However, her spouse and medical team refused to acknowledge her wishes. Susan courageously advocated for the patient, speaking privately with the spouse and directly addressing the ethical dilemma with the intensivist. Her actions ensured the patient’s voice was heard and respected, even in the face of resistance.

A third example highlights Susan’s creativity and courage. She cared for a patient with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to methamphetamine abuse. The patient was often violent and had injured multiple staff members. For safety, he was confined to a Posey bed for extended periods, which led to further deconditioning. Susan recognized that this approach was worsening his condition. Thinking creatively, she developed a plan to mobilize the patient with security staff present. With this support, the patient was able to safely ambulate and regain strength. Over time, he progressed significantly and was eventually placed in a specialized TBI care setting.

Beyond her bedside care, Susan’s clinical expertise and self-initiated communication have prevented adverse outcomes for many patients. Before the implementation of Care Progression Huddles, she left handwritten notes on charts to remind providers about IV antibiotic durations and to consider transitioning to oral medications. She ensured electrolyte protocols were consistently updated and accurate. Susan also developed nursing care plans that doubled as effective SBAR handoffs—clearly outlining patient goals, interventions, and progress. Her end-of-shift summaries were so thorough that any nurse following her could immediately understand the patient’s status and care trajectory.

A fierce advocate for mobility, Susan even created her own patient education tool titled “Why Getting Out of Bed Is Good for Me.” This handout listed the benefits of mobility in simple, encouraging language—highlighting improvements in circulation, prevention of pressure injuries, and better respiratory function, among others.

Lasty, Susan has a desire to share her work ethic with her team. As a stickler of details such as labeling IV tubing, cleaning up old orders, doing more vital functions, and religiously ensuring suction is set up and ready, etc. She spent hours creating a helpful hint for staff on all the things that need to be done that are often overlooked. She then developed standard work (SW) for RN charting and presented this to the Unit Council for their feedback and review.

Susan exemplifies the heart and science of nursing. She is a compassionate caregiver, a fearless advocate, and a clinical leader. Her impact on patients, families, and colleagues is profound and lasting.