I am honored to nominate Meghan Pollard as the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year.

At the
tender age of 24 years old, Meghan has been a RN for a little over 4 years. She serves as a RN
on the medical surgical unit with a large geriatric population. Meghan serves this population
with compassion, care, patience, and respect. The love she demonstrates to the patients on the
unit is palpable and evident in every movement she makes in her delivery of care. At such a
young age, Meghan is and has been a leader on the unit. Her co-workers see her as a "go to"
person for any questions or concerns regarding their patients, medications, staffing issues,
conflict issues, personal issues, or any issues that arise in the unit and Meghan consistently,
calmly, and accurately addresses each issue. This amazes me that someone at such a young age
has amassed such leadership skills, wisdom, and compassion, particularly in a generation of
young people where the opposite is quickly becoming the standard. Meghan does all this with
much humility. When you try to compliment her on her attributes, she will respectfully respond,
"Mam, I just try my best." Meghan has participated in the following: coordinator our NICHE
(Nurses Implementing Care for Healthsystem Elders) team, she went to the annual NICHE
conference(2012/2015), she has advanced to Clinician II in our Professional Nurse Advancement
Program, she is the unit champion for the unit, she performs in the role of charge nurse and
preceptor, she is enrolled in the BSN program at Old Dominion University, and has worked on
multiple committees within the hospital including the Learning and Retention Council. In
addition to her BLS certification, which is mandatory, Meghan has gone beyond and obtained her
ACLS certification which is not mandatory for her role. If there is a Rapid Response occurring
and Meghan is working, you can be assured that Meghan is there. The ICU nurses often tell me
how much they appreciate Meghan and her skill level. She is one of two nurses who organize
the unit's annual Christmas Party which is known throughout our hospital and attended by the
staff and physicians as well. Outside of the workplace, Meghan plays the drums in her church
band and this past September, Meghan participated on her second medical mission trip to South
Africa to serve the poor with Joyce Meyer Ministry Hand of Hope. All of this at 24, I am in
great anticipation of what Meghan will do to impact this world with the rest of her life through
her love of God, her love of people, her love of herself, and her love of nursing.

Regina Goodwyn, MSN

3B Medical/Surgical Manager