of the Year

(continued) feelings while also setting the standard.
Patient safety came first, but the mental health of her
pupil came second. April understands that people don’t
learn, that people can’t learn when they feel attacked or
under duress. April gives her students the same
compassion and fostering care that she does her patients,
and that is what makes her such an effective and exciting
teacher. Even though I am no longer her student, I
continue to aim for her bar.”
In addition to her continuing joy in precepting, April is an
integral part in 14K’s communication and knowledge transfer.
April heads a branch of the unit’s communication tree, and
often personally reviews UBNPC news with her peers one-onone.
April is an active member of 14K’s UBNPC. She has served as
interim UBNPC co-chair and as a Skin Champion. She is 14K’s
Magnet Champion, and prior to the Magnet survey, played a
key role in preparing staff. Through creative education and
one-on-one meetings, April ensured that staff understood the
survey and how their work exemplified Magnet readiness.
“April Thompson was my nurse preceptor during my
last semester of nursing school. What I appreciated
the most about April was her ability to stay calm,
focused and create a relaxed teaching environment
for me regardless of how complex or hectic our
shifts together were. She took the time to seek out
teaching moments, encouraged me to research the
disease processes we were encountering and then
discussed that research and found ways to apply it
in our nursing interventions. This was very influential
to me as a new nurse because I found it easy to
revert back to the "tasks" of the day, medication
passes, dressing changes, etc. I remind myself of
her practice on a daily basis, to slow down, think
about the patient, the disease process and plan my
nursing interventions based on this larger picture.”
Co-worker
“April’s energy, enthusiasm and positive attitude are
contagious and she is a positive force. We are
fortunate to have April on the 14K Team!”
Lori Ellingson, Division Director
“I often put students and new employees with April for their experiences on 14K. Just this week, I am having a new
float pool RN orient with April. I feel that April is an excellent teacher of new students and nurses because she is
patient with them, but also because she is a big picture thinker and that is so important to demonstrate to new nursing
learners. She also has a true joy of nursing and connects so well to patients (she is a frequent patient favorite) which is
a great thing for new staff to see. In the past, we have had some students who have struggled, and April’s response
has always been, ‘Give them to me! I love a challenge!’ .
Another way in which April promotes learning is through her interactions with our interdisciplinary team. She frequently
asks questions in our weekly rounds to enhance her own learning and the learning of others, even if the question or
answer is not critical to performing her daily work. I often overhear conversations she has with the pharmacy or our
NPs and PAs to learn more about the condition she is treating. “ Debra Harris, Nurse Manager