I am an APP in the Psychiatric ED and have had the pleasure of watching Sean exhibit ICARE values with one of my patients recently. I came into work one evening and had received a report that one of my patients from the night before had worsened over the course of the day and had become quite catatonic.

After receiving the report, I looked over at this patient and noticed Sean, sitting next to the patient. Upon seeing him next time, I automatically assumed my patient had done something that required redirection by a staff member. On arrival at the patient’s chair and Sean, I noticed the look on Sean’s face. It was a look of concern and compassion for my patient. When asked what my patient had done to require him to sit next to him, Sean replied: “Nothing, he just needed someone to talk to."

It can be so easy to brush off the feelings of those with a psychiatric illness. The actions and statements of Sean exemplify his integrity, compassion, respect, accountability, and equity to our patients. To top it off, this was not even Sean’s patient that day, which shows me how he collaborates and works with his peers in a team effort when caring for patients in the psychiatric emergency department.

I’m not sure how long Sean had been sitting with the patient, but it was obviously enough to make an impact on my catatonic patient. I told Sean that it was a shift change and that he should go and give a report so he could go home.

Shortly after turning my back to walk away, I saw in my peripheral vision Sean standing up, and the patient abruptly standing in front of Sean. Worried, I started to walk back to them, but then I saw the patient put his arms around Sean to give him a hug and heard him ask if he was coming back. This was such a heartwarming moment because it showed how big an impact Sean made on this patient by just being there for him when he needed it most, despite not being able to verbally communicate this to anyone.