Over the last year, we’ve seen Jess transition from PCA to New Grad Nurse to experienced RN. She has worked so hard toward this goal and has become an integral part of the team. On numerous occasions, Jess has picked up shifts knowing we are short-staffed to prevent her coworkers from struggling. When she is here, she restocks the supply closet and announced during our safety huddle that she has an “easier assignment” essentially volunteering her help to any nurse who needed an extra hand. It takes a truly selfless coworker and a mark of a leader to put the team before herself.

In addition to being a strong and helpful team player, we’ve witnessed her clinical skills grow. Once Jess was caring for a patient with Intermittent Explosive Disorder; a mental health condition that manifests with impulsive angry outbursts. The patient began to make verbal homicidal threats to staff prompting us to get security involved. Many members of our staff became scared for their safety due to the graphic nature of the threats. Jess did a wonderful job of coordinating care between providers, security, and support staff. She actively worked to de-escalate the patient's behaviors and remained calm and professional throughout. Jess has grown tremendously as a nurse, and we are all lucky to have her as a coworker!