Laura Brey-Gardner has exceptional interpersonal skills with patients, families, peers and colleagues. Laura demonstrates extraordinary care to patients and families through the development of trust and respect. She has significantly made a difference in my husband's care.

My husband came into the hospital to have a procedure and ended up needing open heart surgery. He was admitted to SJH on Monday, August 11 with surgery first being scheduled for Friday, August 15. I work with Laura in PACU and asked if she would be his nurse and get him ready for surgery. The day before surgery Laura went above and beyond. After she finished her shift she went up to my husband's room and introduced herself to him and told him she would be getting him ready. This put my husband at ease knowing when he arrived in PACU he would know a friendly nurse would be waiting for him. The day he arrived in PACU Laura was waiting for him; he was very scared and anxious. Once again Laura went out of her way and talked with the Anesthesiologist and was able to give him some relaxing medication shortly after his IV was placed.(Usually Anes. waits until they place the central line before they sedate but because Laura went out of her way and took her time to page Anes. he was able to get some sedation before the lines were placed.)

After surgery Laura was very concerned and at different times would ask how my husband was doing. She would let me vent to her and she listens not only with her ears but with her heart.

Laura brings enthusiasm and energy to nursing every day. Even when Laura is busy she will make the time to help someone who needs support, help with a challenging IV or who may just need a friendly person to talk to.

She is a wonderful role model for the type of person I would like to be and the type of person every nurse should strive to be.