Back in September of 2022, Rachael assumed care of a young adult patient who was transported by EMS with bizarre behavior. He refused to speak to the staff and also refused to take psychiatric medication to stabilize, and continued to require sedation. After 3 days of not cooperating with the staff, and not being able to formulate a safe discharge plan, Racheal took extensive time with him to build rapport and continued to take him on as a patient. She was persistent in building a trusting relationship with him, and he eventually provided his full name and his mother's contact information. Turns out his mother was desperately searching for him for days, thinking the worst. She had been calling hospitals to find him, but he did not initially provide his legal full name which prevented her from being able to locate him. The mother was incredibly grateful to get the call from Rachael that her son was ok and safe. Once the mom was able to arrive, the patient began taking medications and was eventually transferred to another facility for further treatment. The patient's mom continues to maintain contact with Rachael to update her on his progress - he is doing well and has stabilized.

Rachael shows incredible compassion in all of the patient encounters that she provides. She always has a smile on her face and is willing to help others, including colleagues. She showed incredible empathy for the patient, knowing that he was struggling but that there had to be someone out there looking for him. She was determined to break through and find out, which is an admirable attribute as some others would have given up on the situation. The patient and family trusted Rachael and continued to do so. Rachael demonstrates love for her patients and nursing through her dedication, positive attitude, and advocacy. She put the needs of her patient and family above her own, taking time out of her busy work day to connect with the patient and track down the mom, which was really going above and beyond her day-to-day job duties. This situation is just one of many - Rachael truly embodies what a DAISY Nurse should be and we are beyond grateful to have her on our ER team.