If you want to meet an extraordinary nurse, please take the time to meet Jules at MHU. She has been blessed with a special gift of caring for our most vulnerable patients - those with mental illness. Due to COVID-19, we have to keep MHU patients in the ED until their COVID test comes back, which is 5 hours. There have been several times on the night shift, Jules has taken the time to come to the ED to reassure and help keep a patient calm.
One night, in particular, there was a suicidal patient in the ED who wanted help at first, but as we waited for the COVID test, the more anxious and worked up the patient became. The patient decided she was going to leave. She had a plan to hurt herself but did not meet the criteria to be chaptered (I know it sounds crazy, but it happens all the time.) I called MHU and Jules came down to the ED, she sat with this young woman and helped ease her anxiety. She reassured her that we were here to keep her safe. She got on the same level as the patient. I am convinced that Jules saved this girl's life. This act of nursing kindness should remind all of us as to why we became nurses...to help people in the worst of times. I learned so much watching how Jules spoke with this patient. It has made me a better nurse. I will be forever grateful for nurses like Jules who young nurses like me can look up to and follow their lead.