On Friday, Sarah Davis woke up and felt like she needed to call and see if she was needed at work. The charge nurse originally told her she wasn't needed, but then called her back once admissions started. Sarah came in to admit a patient that had been found down and in bad shape at a hotel room. She was found alone and with multiple pill bottles, so she was under suicide watch. During report from the ER, Sarah was told that the patient was in pretty bad shape from rolling around on the ground and pulling at her own hair.

When Sarah took over care of this patient it was very evident that the patient did not do the extent of damage to herself. She had multiple brain bleeds, bleeding behind her eye, bruises and lacerations. Sarah spoke to physicians who agreed that there could be more to this story, Sarah requested a SANE exam. In the state of TX, the local police department is who approves or denies this request. Sarah reached out to the on-duty Denison police officer at TMC who came up to the floor and said absolutely not, we will not be doing a SANE exam on this woman. Sarah did not let a single NO prevent her from advocating for her patient. She called the police department and explained the findings and what was going on and immediately got approval from their supervisor.

On Saturday the SANE nurse arrived and found markings and a "foreign substance" and told Sarah this was very much a necessary SANE exam. Had Sarah not advocated and kept pushing to get the right testing for this patient, it would not have been done. When our patients are vulnerable, unable to speak for themselves, it is up to nurses and healthcare providers to provide a safe environment, balance safety, and security, and be a voice, and an advocate. Sarah provides this level of care and compassion for her patients and deserves to be recognized for her efforts.