Savannah Conyers
September 2021
Savannah
Conyers
,
BSN, RN
Emergency Department
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs
,
IA
United States
When he said no one cares or likes him, Savannah told him how she cared about him as a person. His attitude completely shifted.
I witnessed a school-age boy in the ER for mental health evaluation. He was obviously defiant, closed posture, angry expression, and loud defiant speech. He was very petite, small for his age, and appeared much younger than his stated age. During the course of the assessment, he voiced that no one liked him, no one cared, and Savannah immediately got down on her knee, looked him in the eye and said, “I don’t even know you and I like you.” And for a brief moment you could see his whole demeanor soften and he looked like he was going to cry. It was a brief moment, but it happened.
For that brief moment, that boy felt liked and cared for and he felt it. It was obvious and almost palpable the change in him, even if only for a moment. Savannah treats all her patients with dignity and respect. She is gentle and non-judgmental. Savannah always gets to the patient’s level when dealing with mental health evaluations. She sets clear expectations gently but firmly. Savannah is professional and safe in a caring and respectful manner. Savannah has been a nurse just over a year and a half. Although she is relatively new to the role, she exemplifies all that it means to be an extraordinary nurse. She demonstrates true compassion in all her interactions with patients and families.
Recently, I witnessed her work with an elderly patient who came in with depression. He was wheelchair-bound with obvious issues limiting his neck mobility. Because Savannah is the type of nurse who wants to make a connection with her patients, she crouched down and got nearly on the floor so she could make eye contact with him while she heard his story. You could see that the patient really appreciated this effort.
In another situation, she was able to break down walls for a teenager with behavioral issues. He had been resistant to provide information at first and was rather flippant in his responses. As she worked with him, she was able to get him to reveal the triggers for his behaviors which were related to how he was treated by his peers. When he said no one cares or likes him, she told him how she cared about him as a person. His attitude completely shifted. He became more cooperative with providing information and the entire process in the ED. She has also been recognized by patients for how she performs at the bedside.
For example, one patient wrote a letter and said she was “very kind, nonjudgmental, and helpful.” In addition to being great with patients, Savannah is a great asset to the entire team. She has a positive attitude that permeates the rest of the department. No matter the chaos of the moment, she remains upbeat and brings others around her up to that level. Savannah works one of the busiest shifts in the ED. When she comes to work, she is ready to hit the ground running to keep things moving as efficiently as possible, sometimes taking on multiple patients back to back to help clear the lobby. She remains calm and cool with every challenge that comes her way. She frequently picks up extra shifts to support the team and has been known to come in at a moment’s notice when we’ve been drowning during surges. We are so lucky to have her as a part of the ED team.
For that brief moment, that boy felt liked and cared for and he felt it. It was obvious and almost palpable the change in him, even if only for a moment. Savannah treats all her patients with dignity and respect. She is gentle and non-judgmental. Savannah always gets to the patient’s level when dealing with mental health evaluations. She sets clear expectations gently but firmly. Savannah is professional and safe in a caring and respectful manner. Savannah has been a nurse just over a year and a half. Although she is relatively new to the role, she exemplifies all that it means to be an extraordinary nurse. She demonstrates true compassion in all her interactions with patients and families.
Recently, I witnessed her work with an elderly patient who came in with depression. He was wheelchair-bound with obvious issues limiting his neck mobility. Because Savannah is the type of nurse who wants to make a connection with her patients, she crouched down and got nearly on the floor so she could make eye contact with him while she heard his story. You could see that the patient really appreciated this effort.
In another situation, she was able to break down walls for a teenager with behavioral issues. He had been resistant to provide information at first and was rather flippant in his responses. As she worked with him, she was able to get him to reveal the triggers for his behaviors which were related to how he was treated by his peers. When he said no one cares or likes him, she told him how she cared about him as a person. His attitude completely shifted. He became more cooperative with providing information and the entire process in the ED. She has also been recognized by patients for how she performs at the bedside.
For example, one patient wrote a letter and said she was “very kind, nonjudgmental, and helpful.” In addition to being great with patients, Savannah is a great asset to the entire team. She has a positive attitude that permeates the rest of the department. No matter the chaos of the moment, she remains upbeat and brings others around her up to that level. Savannah works one of the busiest shifts in the ED. When she comes to work, she is ready to hit the ground running to keep things moving as efficiently as possible, sometimes taking on multiple patients back to back to help clear the lobby. She remains calm and cool with every challenge that comes her way. She frequently picks up extra shifts to support the team and has been known to come in at a moment’s notice when we’ve been drowning during surges. We are so lucky to have her as a part of the ED team.