Priscilla is one of our night pillars at Jefferson Four. She has been a nurse for more than 20 years and has worked for almost 10 years on nights at J4. A Registered Nurse who places the patient's and family's need first at all times. She provides best practice and ensures that every member of her team provides the utmost level of care, compassion and dedication to their patients. If anyone falls short of her expectations, she makes it known with constructive criticism and positive re-enforcement. She treats each and every individual with respect and is sensitive to the diversity around her.

There are countless patient situations that we can recount to support this nomination but one of the latest one is of JW, a 47 y/o male who was admitted from the emergency room for suicidal ideation, multiple substance abuse, schizophrenia and many more. JW was very agitated and combative in the emergency room and needed four point leather restraints. Patient was medically unstable and was admitted to our unit for a 1:1 observation and management. Psychiatry was involved and medications were initiated. This patient's long history of substance abuse and psychiatric history proved to be challenging to the staff coupled with his behavioral manifestations of spitting, kicking, punching and angry demeaning words. He had several times physically hurt staff when being weaned from restraints and when being medicated. Most times security needed to be called for a Code White or Staff Assist just to manage his behavior and regain his control. Staff felt fearful, confused and inadequate when caring for him. His medication regimen was extensive and more than what an ordinary regular patient will be dosed at having developed tolerance to medications due to his history of multiple substance abuse. Priscilla was instrumental in caring for JW and his successful transition from an uncontrolled, unsafe person to one ready to face the world of rehabilitation.

Ms. Ebo came to work one night and met JW for the very first time. Their first meeting was one challenging scenario wherein JW was in a state of chaos, a situation wherein he was being held by four security officers, and staff members around to hold him down in order for the primary nurse to medicate him and place him back on four-point locked restraint. That night, Priscilla decided that she was going to help this patient be in control of himself and successfully be weaned off the restraint the soonest and safest possible time.

In order for her to understand this patient, Ms. Priscilla reviewed JW'S chart, spoke to his family, the Psychiatrist and members of the team. After this collaborative effort, she understood that the best way to care for JW was to provide him matter-of-fact approach, ensuring limit setting, making sure that his anxiety emotions are managed by utilizing medications prescribed for him in a timely effective manner. She became an advocate for this patient who currently is unable to manage his own behavior and safety. JW's medication dosing and timing were on higher dosing and this provided confusion for some of the staff who was fearful of providing needed medications timely. Night after night, this was what Priscilla did with this patient. Ms. Ebo spent enough time with him, to provide matter of fact interactions and convinced him to agree with a safety contract. The contract states that he can be taken off restraints as long as he keep taking his medications and maintain safety to himself, to others and to his surroundings and that if he fails to abide by this safety contract, he will be again restrained.

In order to have continuity of care, Priscilla educated her peers/team during hand-off about the most effective and most appropriate approach to managing JW's behavior as well as best utilization of his medication regimen. After days and nights of trying, he was successfully and safely weaned off restraint and maintained on 1:1 observation. Psychiatry and social work saw that he is becoming more and more medically stable and was able to refer him for Psych evaluation for an appropriate rehab facility placement.

JW was discharged five days from admission and Ms. Ebo is said to have been key to this short stay and transition to a rehab place.

For all of the things that she does for the patients and staff of J4, Ms. Maria Priscilla Ebo, RN deserves this coveted DAISY Award.