Shelly Brown
January 2020
Shelly
Brown
,
MSN, RN, SANE-A, CNV
Emergency Department
VCU Health
Richmond
,
VA
United States
Ms. Brown is committed to improving patient safety through screening for human trafficking by developing applicable evidence-based tools and helping healthcare professionals recognize red flags.
I am overjoyed to nominate Shelly Brown for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Patient Care. Ms. Brown has devoted 12 years of her 14-year nursing career to the specialty of Forensic Nursing. Every day, she makes the extraordinary, ordinary. Approximately five years ago, Ms. Brown cared for her first identified victim of human trafficking - this survivor’s experience forever transformed Ms. Brown’s understanding of human trafficking. Realizing she had unquestionably cared for many unidentified human trafficking victims, she committed to protecting this vulnerable patient population by increasing awareness through advocacy and education of healthcare administrators, government leaders, police, educators, first responders, and healthcare providers.
Through resolute efforts each year, Ms. Brown conducts over 40 educational lectures, seminars, and initiatives to raise awareness of violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Based on her own experience, Ms. Brown identified the critical need for healthcare providers to recognize subtle signs of human trafficking, as few victims present with an overt clinical and social presentation. Ms. Brown is committed to improving patient safety through screening for human trafficking by developing applicable evidence-based tools and helping healthcare professionals recognize red flags. Due to her steadfast commitment to the identification of human trafficking survivors, Ms. Brown was invited to participate in the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) Human Trafficking Taskforce to guide state-wide screening by healthcare systems for human trafficking. Ms. Brown made substantive contributions to this taskforce's position and mission statement. Within the scope of her work, Ms. Brown reviewed numerous screening tools, synthesized the literature, and created evidence-based educational guidance documents to be utilized by Virginia hospitals, including educational resources, guidance documents, and dissemination methods, which included a VHHA Magazine article featuring survivor stories to highlight the magnitude of the need for additional screening.
Ms. Brown contributed a vignette of the first human trafficking survivor she encountered, which was published and disseminated in January 2020. Guided by the forthcoming VHHA publication, each hospital in the Commonwealth will develop its own screening process aimed at identifying human trafficking victims. Ms. Brown and her Forensic Team colleagues have been developing a new violence screening tool, including human trafficking items. Ms. Brown also understands the critical need to cultivate an organizational culture of trauma-informed care and the importance of recognizing excellence in this aspect of clinical care. She created the Phoenix Award, which recognizes any healthcare team member who identifies as a victim of violence. Ms. Brown not only conceived the idea for this award but also designed the pin, which is a phoenix with the ribbon colors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Additionally, she created the brochure and educational PowerPoint. The distinctive and inspiring Phoenix Award supports a positive patient experience in the most horrific patient circumstances through visibility, advocacy, and recognition. Please join me in recognizing Shelly Brown as an extraordinary nurse and patient safety advocate committed to giving voice to this silent epidemic.
***
Thank you for the opportunity to share my observations about the practice and grace of Shelly Brown; I cannot think of a more dedicated patient safety advocate. Weeks before Christmas 2018, Ms. Brown assumed care of a young woman from a SANE colleague, who had admitted the patient during the night. After her colleague addressed the patient’s immediate health care needs, provided for her safety during the night, and conducted a forensic exam, Ms. Brown received the handoff and took responsibility for her care.
The initial history provided by the patient indicated vague details of riding in the cab of an 18-wheeler, where the truck driver promised to take her home. The young woman was fearful and not forthcoming when Ms. Brown asked her questions. Her clinical intuition told her there was something different about this case and that she needed to develop rapport with the patient to achieve trust; she proceeded with further assessment and direct questions. Demonstrating compassionate, patient-centered care throughout the interview, she learned that this woman had been dropped off by friends at a truck stop, where she was picked up by a trafficker. Ms. Brown uncovered the true nature of her imprisonment; this young woman had been abducted, held for six weeks in captivity, taken across multiple state lines, and drugged with little recollection of events. At the end of her capture, the trafficker stopped at a shopping center; realizing she was left alone, she escaped and asked a man in the parking lot to use his phone to call her mother. Disoriented, she left the shopping center and walked almost 17 miles to a church, where a woman called the police. Richmond Police brought her to VCU Medical Center. Given this new information, she contacted the Richmond Police Department (PD), and with their assistance, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was notified, where it was revealed this patient was on the FBI’s missing person list.
Understanding the imminent need to prevent further physical and emotional harm, displaying compassionate, holistic care, Ms. Brown arranged for a social admission to the Clinical Decision Unit, located near the Forensic Suite, so that the patient could rest. At the same time, Ms. Brown made additional arrangements with the care team, Richmond PD, and FBI to locate the patient’s family and coordinate her return. During the night, Ms. Brown obtained clothes, toiletries, and items for diversional activities and arranged mental health and OB-GYN follow-up care in her home state. The next day, assuring safe transport, the FBI escorted the survivor on a flight back to her family. Under the most dire circumstances, the patient left a note for Ms. Brown that read, “I will never forget what you have done for me. Thank you.” Ms. Brown’s actions embodied the organizational commitment to reduce harm, promote safety, and provide service excellence regardless of setting or circumstance.
***
Thank you all for everything. You have helped me tremendously. I am very thankful. Maybe one day I'll see my heroes again. One love.
Through resolute efforts each year, Ms. Brown conducts over 40 educational lectures, seminars, and initiatives to raise awareness of violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Based on her own experience, Ms. Brown identified the critical need for healthcare providers to recognize subtle signs of human trafficking, as few victims present with an overt clinical and social presentation. Ms. Brown is committed to improving patient safety through screening for human trafficking by developing applicable evidence-based tools and helping healthcare professionals recognize red flags. Due to her steadfast commitment to the identification of human trafficking survivors, Ms. Brown was invited to participate in the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) Human Trafficking Taskforce to guide state-wide screening by healthcare systems for human trafficking. Ms. Brown made substantive contributions to this taskforce's position and mission statement. Within the scope of her work, Ms. Brown reviewed numerous screening tools, synthesized the literature, and created evidence-based educational guidance documents to be utilized by Virginia hospitals, including educational resources, guidance documents, and dissemination methods, which included a VHHA Magazine article featuring survivor stories to highlight the magnitude of the need for additional screening.
Ms. Brown contributed a vignette of the first human trafficking survivor she encountered, which was published and disseminated in January 2020. Guided by the forthcoming VHHA publication, each hospital in the Commonwealth will develop its own screening process aimed at identifying human trafficking victims. Ms. Brown and her Forensic Team colleagues have been developing a new violence screening tool, including human trafficking items. Ms. Brown also understands the critical need to cultivate an organizational culture of trauma-informed care and the importance of recognizing excellence in this aspect of clinical care. She created the Phoenix Award, which recognizes any healthcare team member who identifies as a victim of violence. Ms. Brown not only conceived the idea for this award but also designed the pin, which is a phoenix with the ribbon colors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Additionally, she created the brochure and educational PowerPoint. The distinctive and inspiring Phoenix Award supports a positive patient experience in the most horrific patient circumstances through visibility, advocacy, and recognition. Please join me in recognizing Shelly Brown as an extraordinary nurse and patient safety advocate committed to giving voice to this silent epidemic.
***
Thank you for the opportunity to share my observations about the practice and grace of Shelly Brown; I cannot think of a more dedicated patient safety advocate. Weeks before Christmas 2018, Ms. Brown assumed care of a young woman from a SANE colleague, who had admitted the patient during the night. After her colleague addressed the patient’s immediate health care needs, provided for her safety during the night, and conducted a forensic exam, Ms. Brown received the handoff and took responsibility for her care.
The initial history provided by the patient indicated vague details of riding in the cab of an 18-wheeler, where the truck driver promised to take her home. The young woman was fearful and not forthcoming when Ms. Brown asked her questions. Her clinical intuition told her there was something different about this case and that she needed to develop rapport with the patient to achieve trust; she proceeded with further assessment and direct questions. Demonstrating compassionate, patient-centered care throughout the interview, she learned that this woman had been dropped off by friends at a truck stop, where she was picked up by a trafficker. Ms. Brown uncovered the true nature of her imprisonment; this young woman had been abducted, held for six weeks in captivity, taken across multiple state lines, and drugged with little recollection of events. At the end of her capture, the trafficker stopped at a shopping center; realizing she was left alone, she escaped and asked a man in the parking lot to use his phone to call her mother. Disoriented, she left the shopping center and walked almost 17 miles to a church, where a woman called the police. Richmond Police brought her to VCU Medical Center. Given this new information, she contacted the Richmond Police Department (PD), and with their assistance, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was notified, where it was revealed this patient was on the FBI’s missing person list.
Understanding the imminent need to prevent further physical and emotional harm, displaying compassionate, holistic care, Ms. Brown arranged for a social admission to the Clinical Decision Unit, located near the Forensic Suite, so that the patient could rest. At the same time, Ms. Brown made additional arrangements with the care team, Richmond PD, and FBI to locate the patient’s family and coordinate her return. During the night, Ms. Brown obtained clothes, toiletries, and items for diversional activities and arranged mental health and OB-GYN follow-up care in her home state. The next day, assuring safe transport, the FBI escorted the survivor on a flight back to her family. Under the most dire circumstances, the patient left a note for Ms. Brown that read, “I will never forget what you have done for me. Thank you.” Ms. Brown’s actions embodied the organizational commitment to reduce harm, promote safety, and provide service excellence regardless of setting or circumstance.
***
Thank you all for everything. You have helped me tremendously. I am very thankful. Maybe one day I'll see my heroes again. One love.