I would like to nominate Christy Cornell, Clinical Nurse Supervisor from Atrium Health Steele Creek Emergency Department. I have had the privilege of working with Christy for over a year and have continually been amazed at how dedicated she is to providing compassionate care to our patients. Christy also excels at supporting and encouraging fellow staff members as they provide compassionate care to their patients in the department.

When I began working with Christy, one of the first things I noticed was that she always took the time to ensure the well-being of our behavioral health patients. In the emergency department, behavioral health patients are often placed in hallway beds while they await placement at a local mental health facility. This time in the emergency department can be anywhere from a few hours to days to weeks. These patients are experiencing a mental health crisis that has led them to seek care at our facility. They can be in an altered state of mind that can include being depressed, manic, defiant, or hopeless, just to name a few. Moreover, they are often in a chaotic environment with a lot of stimulation and a reduced sense of control. I have seen Christy, time and time again, introduce herself to each of the behavioral patients when she comes on shift, and ask them if they need anything. She always ensures that they have plenty of food, drinks, snacks, and something to occupy their time, whether it be a puzzle or books, or coloring sheets. She does not forget about them. She updates them on what changes may have occurred with their care and is relentless in ensuring that proper placement in the community is found for each behavioral health patient.

In the hectic world of the emergency department, it is easy to push behavioral health patients to the side and lose focus on them. Christy does not do that. She sees them as humans who are just going through a bit of a rough patch. Her compassionate care toward this vulnerable population is admirable and worthy of recognition. She shows us all that regardless of what a person may be going through, each of us deserves to be seen as human and shown compassion and humility.

Perhaps what I admire even more about Christy and why I strive to be more like her, is her staff-focused mentality. Every shift I have ever worked with her, she has always made it a point to seek each staff member out and ask them “Do you need anything? Can I help you with anything?" and “Have you eaten yet?” I have been a nurse for nearly ten years now and seldom have I ever had a leader ask me those questions. As a nurse, I feel that we often are expected to be selfless and put our patients’ needs ahead of our own. While I care deeply about the health and well-being of each of my patients, I also need to care for myself so that I am able to provide that higher level of care to my patients. Christy understands this balance and need for staff members to care for themselves so that they can provide excellent care to patients coming in for treatment to the emergency department. When my leaders care about me, I feel valued and invested in myself and my patients. Christy shows me that she cares about me and my fellow nurses which strengthens my mission to be the best nurse that I can be for every patient.

Christy Cornell is an intelligent, compassionate, and dedicated nurse whose mission is to support staff in any way she can in an effort to create a safe, caring, and hopeful environment for both staff and patients. She holds people accountable and truly elevates the level of nursing care at Atrium Health Steele Creek. I am so incredibly lucky that I have the opportunity to work with her and be a part of her nursing experience.