of the Year

I feel so honored to
receive this award. I
think many of us go
into nursing to help others and make a difference in
their lives. However, learning how to be a nurse is
not that easy. It can be demanding, stressful,
intimidating, and overwhelming… all in the same
hour. I distinctly remember being brand new to the
profession and seriously questioning if I had what it
takes to endure. Thanks to my preceptors and other
nurses, their support and guidance helped me to
gain confidence; focus on what was most important;
and remember why I was pursuing this career.
Today, that is what I try to do for others entering
into nursing. I always say, ‘If you are really here to
serve this population, and want the best for every
single patient, we can work the rest out.’ I love to
learn together with students and nurses, knowing
we share a common mission and goals.
April Thompson
April Thompson, RN
RN, 14K Bone Marrow Transplant unit
Manager: Debra Harris
One of April’s co-workers states:
“I think that fostering the seeds that you see in someone, and
having faith in their ability lies at the very core of teaching. That
is exactly what this award category is all about. April was my
preceptor during my final term of nursing school, and every day
I learned more than I ever thought possible, and every day I had
fun. Cancer is serious, difficult stuff, but April finds a way of
connecting with her patients and co-workers in a way that
relieves some of that tension. She sets an example of lightness
without levity, and compassion based in knowledge.
All term long, she pushed me. When I had questions she didn’t
know the answer to, she said “I don’t know, let’s look it up!”
and we did. When I was questioning the timing of a medication
(a diuretic at bedtime) she had me go talk to pharmacy
personally and get the dosing changed to morning. It might be a
small example, but she was making me become a patient
advocate right from the start. She taught me that a nurse has
just as much, if not more, say in a patient’s care than any
doctor or pharmacist.
Being a new nurse and a human being, I made many a mistake
that April was witness to. She let me err, but she never let me
fall on my face. And each time, we’d go back over what had
happened and discuss all the possibilities. April never once
made me feel stupid or embarrassed. One time I approached a
patient’s central line without gloves on. Luckily April stopped
me before I got there, but she did it in such a way that the
patient still trusted me. She knew I was dying inside, she knew
how terrible I felt, and she did what she could to alleviate those
The Teaching category is described as “a nurse who contributes significantly to the education, professional development or
long-term learning of other nursing professionals. This nurse is a teacher who helps others to learn practice.”