Liz is a seasoned nurse who cared for patients in our Emergency Department (ED) for over 25 years, before retiring not long ago. Shortly after her retirement, Liz returned to our department as a per diem nurse, where she continues to work hard to provide our patients with compassionate care every day. I’ve always admired Liz for her compassion, her unstoppable demeanor, her ability to stay calm when it truly matters, and for her mastery in advocating for our patients like no one else. Liz is never afraid to speak up or to escalate things (as high as the heavens, if needed), in order to make sure our patients are well cared for and safe. She is non-judgmental, always having the patient’s best interest at heart. Even though I’ve known all of this for years, I was able to witness her in action, yet again, which led me to this nomination.

One morning, a short-staffed, peak-of-the-Omicron-COVID-pandemic-day, I responded to a call for additional assistance at the front of the ED (the patient entrance). When I arrived, I found a crowd circling around a patient who was screaming loudly and in clear distress. The crowd consisted of security staff, DPD officers, techs, and some nurses. At the center of the chaos, I found a patient in torment, holding a large knife to her own throat and threatening to kill herself. Directly facing the patient, not more than 2-3 feet away, was Liz. Liz was off the clock, as she was just walking into work when she came upon the patient. Off to the side, on the floor, were Liz’s belongings which had been hastily thrown to the side. In between the patient’s screams, I could hear Liz calmly offering to help the patient, repeatedly reassuring her, and begging her to put the knife down. With my heart in my throat, I walked to a different position to try and get closer to Liz, although I knew there was nothing I could do but wait. From this new angle, I was able to see one of our DPD officers, gun drawn and ready to take action if needed. This vision of the officer truly cemented the fact that at any moment, the patient could turn on Liz. This stand-off between Liz and the patient lasted a few minutes until finally, Liz convinced the patient to set the knife down. She then took the patient’s hands in her own while continuing to reassure her, and slowly walk her to a room so that the patient could be cared for.

On that day in January, when many nurses around the country were exhausted, burnt out, and questioning their commitment to this profession, Liz stood in the doorway of our Level 1 Trauma Center ED, a place where the sickest people in our community seek care every day, and single-handedly saved a life.