Advocate Christ Medical Center Nurse Honored

Getting noticed as a float nurse is a major achievement. After all, you’re in one unit one day, then off to a different unit the next. The window of time to make a good impression closes fast. Not only did Jessica Marshall get noticed; she was lauded as Advocate Aurora Health Nurse of the Year for 2019 at Advocate Christ Medical Center.

Now less than two years into her nursing career, Jessica has become a powerhouse in
the Clinical Resource Unit (CRU), where she already is one of the most sought-after preceptors for new nurses.

What many patients and colleagues notice first is her compassion; she treats them like family. When she addresses a patient, it’s at eye level and face to face to help create a personal bond.

Beyond that, however, is a clinical mind that gives a boost to every unit she assists
and provides her the confidence to advocate for her patients. She may be
relatively new to nursing, but she is not afraid to speak up. In one case,
Jessica recommended the possibility of a rare diagnosis to the attending
physician, based on the symptoms she had observed. The doctor ran tests based
on her recommendation and found that she was right.

“Jessica is a highly intelligent, perceptive young woman,” said Sharon Rangel, manager
of nursing resources and CRU. “She is bright, empathetic and kind to all the patients with whom she interacts. She has the unique ability to interact and develop relationships with everyone she encounters – patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers. She is highly regarded by her co-workers. In her CRU role, Jessica must display a high degree of flexibility.”

A former colleague of Jessica’s who herself ended up in the hospital with
puzzling symptoms found Jessica to be her strongest advocate. Through a long
stay in the hospital, Jessica stuck by her until doctors could find the answers
to her illness. She called Jessica the perfect prototype for “nurses who are
willing to stand up for their patients, challenge themselves, go the extra
mile, and not get comfortable with mediocrity.”