On a recent hectic Friday morning, Unit 41 was attempting to care for an elderly veteran struggling with signs of dementia and mental illness. Unit 41 team leader, Jeanna Snyder, stepped in to comfort this man and to keep him safe. She stayed by his bedside throughout the morning during a period of intense hallucinations, and I received the following written note from this patient's daughter:

"Thank you to Jeanna for being one of the kindest, caring, and hardest working RNs I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Thank you Jeanna for showing my father kindness during his darkest hours! Today was one of the hardest days of my life! My father has been showing signs of mental illness and has begun to see people, animals, and objects that are not there. Today, as I watched my world unravel, Jeanna showed my father total kindness and respect. Talking very calmly to him as he screamed at people who were not there. My son was with me, and at 12 years old his heart was breaking to see his Grandpa in such a confused state! But Jeanna got his mind refocused and shielded him from the madness in the room. Thank you Jeanna for being exceptional!"

Jeanna role models daily that it's the little things that can make a big difference for patients and their families.