I became a nurse in 2024 and started my career in the new grad residency at the VA. Throughout the residency, I rotated through all the inpatient floors and outpatient clinics at my hospital. As such, I've had a lot of different nurse preceptors. Orienting with Laurel Gulac was one of the best experiences I've had. The beauty of having different preceptors is getting to pick up different skills and methods from different people.

The thing about Laurel is that I admire not just one or two aspects of her nursing process but all of it. She is the type of nurse I hope to be someday. She is an amazing advocate for the staff on our floor. She is always willing to lend a helping hand, even without being asked. Whether it is helping grab vitals, a blood sugar, helping with patient care, keeping an eye on the missed meds/PRNs, you name it.

One thing I noticed right away is that Laurel always does things the proper way, without cutting corners. Her willingness to do things like warming up bath wipes, changing all linens, and even nicely wrapping up the cords on vital machines are all "small" things that go a long way. I appreciate how she makes every veteran feel important and cared for. She was a patient and understanding teacher. She has integrity, respect for all, and provides excellent care. She does all of this without asking or expecting anything in return. She is such an amazing part of our team!