RESERVE — Local nurse Amber Millet has taken care of countless patients through ten years of service at multiple hospitals.

Her skilled care and gentle bedside manner have propelled her professionally, earned local recognition and aided numerous friends and strangers in their times of need.

Leda Mae Steib has known Millet her whole life, saying the nurse’s service to her brother approximately 10 years ago is something she’ll never forget.

Because of that contribution nearly a decade ago and strong career, Steib nominated Millet as the region’s best nurse through L’OBSERVATEUR’s National Nurses Week promotion.

Steib’s submission was picked at random by newspaper staff, earning her and Millet gift certificates from local restaurant sponsors.

Steib said she is good friends with Millet’s mother and Millet.

“I nominated her after I heard different people say what a good nurse she is,” Steib said, adding she remembers the quality care Millet provided her brother 10 years ago when he was in ICU at River Parishes Hospital.

“I really remember that she took care of him and he liked her a lot,” Steib said. “She was very sweet. He really enjoyed his experience with Amber.”

Steib described Millet as “the sweetest little person,” adding she was instantly attached to Millet when she was born.

Millet, a Reserve resident, has been a nurse for approximately 10 years, spending the last three years working at St. James Parish Hospital in outpatient surgery.

Over the years Millet has worked in a number of hospitals departments, such as ICU, emergency room and same day surgery.

“Becoming a nurse was always my passion,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be able to help people and make a difference in their lives. I wanted to see the results of helping them in their healing.”

Millet’s favorite departments to work in are ICU and critical care.

“I like the excitement of the job,” she said. “You tend to see some real changes in the critical patients. It challenges me, it makes me think and keeps me on my toes.”

Millet said she has really enjoyed her last three years at St. James Hospital.

“It’s a really great place to work,” she said. “First of all, we have a lot more resources than we used to, so we’re slowly growing. Also, the hospital is a tight knit kind of community. Everybody knows everybody. There is lots of team work, and everybody always has a smile on their face because they love their job.”

Nursing gives Millet a sense of gratification from being able to make a difference in a patient’s life.

“Sometimes they are at their lowest point and sometimes it’s just a routine thing they are coming in for,” she said. “It’s nice to put a smile on their face, give them reassurance and let them know that you’re going to take care of them the best that you can.”

Millet said it was a nice opportunity to be able to take care of Steib’s brother all those years ago.

“It’s nice to take care of someone that you know because when you take care of them, you are also taking care of all of their family members, as well,” she said.

Millet was shocked when she found out Steib nominated her for L’OBSERVATEUR’s recognition but she was even more shocked to find out she won.

“I hadn’t heard about the competition until (Steib) called me to tell me I won,” Millet said. “I thought it was really nice that she nominated me. It feels wonderful to be able to get some recognition for doing your job.”

For nominating Millet, Steib won a gift certificate to Wayne Jacob’s Smokehouse and Millet won a gift certificate to El Mexicano in LaPlace. Millet said she was excited because she loves Mexican food, adding she could eat it every day.