At about 0300 one night we had a patient on the unit who required a lot of redirection. The nurse working the unit that night rarely worked this particular unit and had not had this patient before. So, when the patient became aggressive with staff and required interventions, the nurse working the unit needed some clarity about how the medications could best be given before administering them to the patient. I was working as the Mental Health Clinician that night and decided to give the nurse, Jennifer, who normally works the unit and had been caring for this patient for weeks, a call to get clarity about the medications and her usual procedure for administering them. Jennifer was off work that night, but to my surprise, swiftly answered the phone for us and had no issue informing the nurse about how to draw up the medications. It was 0300 in the morning, and she was pleasant and eager to help us get the medication administered to the patient to optimize their treatment while ensuring the safety of the patient, staff, and facility. The example of this nurse going above and beyond her job to exhibit dedication to her patient, reverence for her co-workers, and wisdom to know and be able to explain the orders was commendable.

Jennifer is always there when the facility needs her whether it’s picking up a shift, helping out with a patient, or giving clarity to novice nurses/staff or new hires. Her support and knowledge are a huge asset to our unit and when she’s on the schedule we all know that she is the first person to call for direction and her passion and enthusiasm always make it easier to reach out for help. Whenever Jennifer is scheduled, we know that we will have an extra source of support during our night shift when access to management is limited. Our patients also know that whenever Jennifer is working that they will have someone that night who will not only provide genuine care for them but will also challenge them to utilize the skills that they have learned during their stay at the Stress Center.