Brian Kelly RN has mastered what I have come to know as the "Art of Psychiatric Nursing" at its absolute best!
When I first started working as a registered nurse on the behavioral health unit, Brian said to me, "Z, the most important thing you can do as a nurse on this unit is to be kind toward patients and the staff. Simple kindness goes a long way with our patient population and with each other."
I will never forget these words and how they had an impact on my first few months as a frontline registered nurse on the unit. I was able to witness Brian role modeling this very behavior with everyone he came into contact with him. I have witnessed Brian on several occasions speaking to patients with the utmost respect while protecting their dignity and truly advocating for patient's needs.
Brian delivers patient-centered care, not Brian-centered care. He uses motivational interviewing skills in all of his patient interactions and has fine-tuned the ability to prevent a patient from escalating, as well as helping a patient learn the skills to deescalate in a stressful situation. Brian always utilizes AIDET when working with patients and models for staff on a consistent basis what best practice looks like during behavioral health nursing care.
The awareness Brian has for identifying needs of the milieu is astonishing, and he does everything in his power to avoid the use of restraint and seclusion as an intervention to manage a patient's behavior. He does this by listening attentively, speaking compassionately, and by being present with patients on a consistent basis. Brian knows how to talk to patients in a manner that validates their feelings and creates a therapeutic partnership so that patient needs can be met.
It is an honor to be able to work with someone that has the clinical psychiatric nursing skills that Brian Kelly exhibits on a regular basis. Thank you, Brian, for all that you do for our team, our patients, and for myself. You are valued and appreciated!