Megan exhibits servant leadership to the fullest extent. I want to share one example of her compassion, empathy, and dedication to the population we serve. In September 2022, a patient was admitted to 5300. He was cognitively impaired and was dropped off at our facility from a local shelter due to his aggression and wandering behaviors. He had an extended stay due to placement issues and became part of the family. Upon admission to 5300, Megan jumped in to help the nursing staff manage his care and calm him. The patient lost his mother who was his primary caretaker and had no other relatives in the area.

Every day Megan was involved in his plan of care and rounded with him and the staff to ensure they felt supported. Eventually, the patient had such a rapport with Megan that his behaviors improved. The entire team on 5300 stepped in and cared for this patient as if he was family; they gave him haircuts, provided new clothes and shoes, brought in toys and coloring books, and even brought Christmas presents on Christmas day.

The team went above and beyond, especially Megan. Many days, you would spot Megan walking the halls or the hospital campus with the patient in tow to allow him to get out of the room. Megan put in extra effort to gain this patient's trust and exhibited a tremendous amount of compassion when caring for him.

In attempting to find placement for the patient, they met barrier after barrier. Megan took the patient to the DMV and the social security office on multiple occasions to assist in getting the things he needed to find placement after discharge. Finally, after more than 150 days the patient was discharged and Megan was able to see him off. This is just one example of how Megan role models extraordinary behavior that motivates her staff to be better caregivers. She is truly a leader who promotes a positive image of the nursing profession through her everyday work.