Zee Zee Ehrhart
April 2019
Zee Zee
Ehrhart
,
RN
4 Memorial
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute
Harrisburg
,
PA
United States
Zee Zee has always gone above and beyond her role as a nurse. She has a heart that provides care on many levels and isn't restricted to just nursing duties. Zee Zee's manner makes patients feel like they are a "family member" and not just a patient. She also treats her staff as "family" versus co-workers. She gives and gives with no expectations in return.
Yet, Zee Zee's leadership is dominated by compassion, competence, and safety. She delivers ease of care on a daily basis but especially during a crisis. There is no one example or scenario that would be able to sum up her skills. Rather, witnessing her work on a daily basis with chronic patients who have been marginalized to make them feel safe and cared about along with the unit safe is utterly amazing. Not to mention how she can quickly slip from a regular routine of care into managing a crisis so effectively that it reduces any collateral trauma or damage.
What stands out at me recently was a few months ago we had a chronic schizophrenic patient who has been admitted for several months. After doing laps with the patient that evening, the patient decided to listen to the voices and drop to the floor violently on his knees. Zee Zee was one of the first staff to respond, along with the CODE TEAM. Zee Zee helped tremendously by having the patient focus on her voice and was able to calm down the patient and made sure the patient remained safe throughout the shift. The patient's condition improved drastically and was a successful discharge.
Zee Zee has a heart of gold and anyone working with her will walk away all the better for it. She will be honest and open but will give you all that she has. When she walks onto the unit, into the nursing station or into a client's room, it will feel like a candle has just entered the darkness. She has a sense of humor combined with experience that is demonstrated through her education of staff and clients combined with her robust laughter and abounding love. I am grateful to have her as one of my captains of our ship and is a reminder of what exceptional nursing care should be.
Yet, Zee Zee's leadership is dominated by compassion, competence, and safety. She delivers ease of care on a daily basis but especially during a crisis. There is no one example or scenario that would be able to sum up her skills. Rather, witnessing her work on a daily basis with chronic patients who have been marginalized to make them feel safe and cared about along with the unit safe is utterly amazing. Not to mention how she can quickly slip from a regular routine of care into managing a crisis so effectively that it reduces any collateral trauma or damage.
What stands out at me recently was a few months ago we had a chronic schizophrenic patient who has been admitted for several months. After doing laps with the patient that evening, the patient decided to listen to the voices and drop to the floor violently on his knees. Zee Zee was one of the first staff to respond, along with the CODE TEAM. Zee Zee helped tremendously by having the patient focus on her voice and was able to calm down the patient and made sure the patient remained safe throughout the shift. The patient's condition improved drastically and was a successful discharge.
Zee Zee has a heart of gold and anyone working with her will walk away all the better for it. She will be honest and open but will give you all that she has. When she walks onto the unit, into the nursing station or into a client's room, it will feel like a candle has just entered the darkness. She has a sense of humor combined with experience that is demonstrated through her education of staff and clients combined with her robust laughter and abounding love. I am grateful to have her as one of my captains of our ship and is a reminder of what exceptional nursing care should be.