dawn leiva, BSN, RN

... We had a patient on D-side who came in for depression and was Baker Acted. She was homeless and arrived with a small dog with her. The patient was unable to be placed at any psych facility due to her having a dog and no place or anyone to take the dog.

Dawn was working on C-side and happened to walk to D-side to ask another nurse a question. She overheard part of the conversation and then inquired and told the patient she would take the dog home and care for the dog until the patient was released. Dawn gave the patient her phone number and took the dog to care for it so the patient and the dog could both get the help they needed.