Melissa is an incredible nurse who practices nursing with her whole heart and with the utmost compassion. I would like to recognize Melissa for her care of a suicidal patient who was going to be discharged unsafely. I voiced my concerns over several shifts and to multiple nurses and escalated my concerns with no result. Melissa took the time and listened, actively shared my concerns, and escalated them during the day to the MD and social worker. She advocated for this patient to ensure they had a safe plan of discharge to home.
This patient was actively suicidal and a newly diagnosed diabetic patient that had significant fine and gross motor skills deficiencies with no assistive devices or clothing for discharge. Melissa took the time to organize the care, so the patient received diabetes education prior to discharge, ensured that the patient had a safe diabetes management plan, was discharged with an assistive walking device, and had clothing and a hygiene pack she prepared for him to take home. The patient discharged knowing he was cared about. I am so thankful for the compassionate care she provided this patient and the compassionate care I know she will continue to provide for all her patients.