Maria Bowers practices nursing on our Second Chance Behavioral Health Unit. She has been a nurse on this unit for many years in addition to her previous experience in medical nursing and psychiatric nursing with patients who have personality disorders. She is compassionate, kind, and yet firm. She provides care for those who have had long, continuous hospitalizations because of persistent psychotic symptoms and behaviors that interfere with community living. The unit is a state-of-the-art behavioral treatment program that along with medication management provides the ingredients for the successful recovery of patients.

When Maria walks on the unit, you can hear patients calling her name with excitement because they know she will make a difference in their day and in their care. Even when patients are very psychotic, she sits quietly and listens to what they have to say. She seeks input from her professional colleagues before she intervenes with a patient. Often she is the nurse who gently encourages patients to take their medications when previously they have refused.

A letter from a recently discharged patient best states the reason Maria was chosen for the DAISY award:
“I barely moved or spoke [when I first came to the hospital]. I was fed, washed, and cared for by Maria [and another nurse]. They gave me shots because I would take no medicine. I sat for months as well as stood still alone. If it wasn’t for Maria…I would be the same….Maria and the other nurses all put me back together.” The patient was able to go on a pass to get her hair, nails, and shopping done. At the end of the day, she said, “I have never felt better in my whole life.”

Maria is highly skilled in the art of gently encouraging and supporting patients as they recover. We are proud of Maria Bowers and the hope she offers our patients who suffer from chronic and persistent mental illness. Maria is a true inspiration to both patients and staff!