August 2024
Heather
Penkwitz
,
RN
Neuro Team/Pain Management
Bellin Health System
Green Bay
,
WI
United States
By the end of the phone call, the patient went from expressing suicidal thoughts to laughing, expressing happy emotions, and having a plan of care to get him to the next step in his care.
Heather Penkwitz stayed an hour past the end of her shift to talk to a patient experiencing a mental health crisis. She talked with the patient for 1.5 hours listening to his story and letting him know she was there for him. The patient expressed multiple times during the call that others are quick to dismiss him and was incredibly thankful that Heather took the time just to listen and provide simple suggestions. By the end of the phone call, the patient went from expressing suicidal thoughts to laughing, expressing happy emotions, and having a plan of care to get him to the next step in his care. Thank you, Heather, for providing high quality care to our patients. You are an asset to the Pain Management team!