I've been working as a staff nurse on Ward 7A for almost 3 years now.  Within this span of time I truly believe that Nicole possess all the qualifications to have this award.

She is a compassionate leader, an inspiring role model, a patient and staff advocate (putting patient care as her priority while maintaining staff well-being), and the kind of team leader who ensures everyone gets a chance to develop their skills by encouraging/sending them for necessary training. As a result, her encouragement and her leadership style, helped the staffs boost their confidence in dealing/caring for patients we have in our ward: vascular and surgical.

She works the extra mile beyond her work role/ what’s expected of her to maintain ward/staff/patient safety. As I remember, she provided us a list of things to do when we were newly qualified, from log-ins that we needed, next to the required trainings for RNs and CSW in 7A, to signing us off with our competency, until our yearly grow together review (here she spared us her extra time to sit and talk with the staff and ask how they are now, most important part of this is: how are you coping. In addition, she also gives feedback and suggestions to staff on how to overcome their weaknesses/shortcomings when it comes to work). 

She is an extraordinary mentor, colleague, and nurse.