As a fellow colleague, I have had the privilege of working with Joshua Babalola for the past 5 years and have witnessed firsthand the exceptional care that he provides to our patients every single day. In the fast-paced and often challenging environment of behavioral healthcare, it is rare to encounter someone who consistently goes above and beyond to not only provide phenomenal clinical care, but also upholds Loma Linda’s values of compassion, integrity, excellence, teamwork, and wholeness.

Working in Youth Services at the Behavioral Medical Center, Josh plays a variety of roles, with the first (and most obvious) being an incredible nurse. As a nurse, I feel there’s no other way to describe him other than being “one of the best”. Working with the adolescent population can be rather difficult at times, but the ability that Josh has to connect with his patients on a personal level is unlike any other. He consistently demonstrates a deep commitment to ensuring the comfort, well-being, and dignity of each patient by always taking the time to listen to them and address any questions and/or concerns they may have. It is with these actions that Josh is able to create such a strong rapport with his patients and assist them with their healing journey. Josh’s devotion and passion for helping our younger generation has even led him back to school to pursue a Doctorate’s degree as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

The second role Josh excels in is being a reliable team member. Acting as one of the relief charge nurses for Youth Services, Josh is a strong leader and frequently checks in with every single team member to assist them in any way possible. On the days that he works as a floor nurse, he can often be found floating between units, lending a helping hand. A prime example of Josh’s reliability is when patients become verbally and/or physically confrontational on the unit. No matter where an emergency situation may occur, Josh is always the first to respond. With his skilled therapeutic communication abilities, Josh is capable of de-escalating even the most aggressive of patients. It is because of these selfless acts and his calming energy that many of our coworkers find comfort and security simply from his presence on the unit, me included.

Finally, Josh serves as a motivating preceptor for our recently graduated and newly hired nurses. Josh fosters a positive learning environment and helps our nurses develop self-confidence by offering them emotional support, encouragement, and helpful criticism. Josh is often used as a resource even for our experienced nurses due to his extensive knowledge in his field of specialty.

I am confident that he will continue to positively impact the lives of his colleagues, patients, and their families throughout his nursing career.