Alyssa Maldonado, BSN, RN

A few weeks ago, I was admitted to the MICU following a suicide attempt. That night was one of the darkest and most vulnerable nights of my life. I was extremely combative, confused, and desperate to leave, fighting against restraints and trying to get up repeatedly. My nurse, Alyssa, handled me with so much firmness, grace, and compassion. She set clear boundaries to ensure I was safe; she also spoke to me with kindness that broke through the chaos. She helped me understand that I needed care, but most importantly, that I deserved care. As a nurse myself I know how difficult it is to maintain balance of empathy and authority in such intense situations. After 15 months of extreme sleep deprivation, taking care of my son while working night shift, I had completely lost myself. Her patience and steady presence reminded me of my worth and what exceptional nursing care looks like. Will never forget how she treated me like a person and not a problem.