Often, as ICU nurses, we focus on providing critical support for our patients. Understanding the care plans and interventions needed for various diagnoses to provide support, including for our mental health patients. Back in December, the hospital began the journey of completing “12 Months of Mental Health Awareness” to stop the stigma on mental health. The journey began with providing team members with the education and tools needed to care for 1013/2013 Behavioral Health patients. We all know there is a need to change our language to reflect care and compassion when caring for patients suffering from mental health. This is an example of one amazing nurse’s display of care and compassion through an unbiased perception:

I witnessed a patient who was under supervision by Gwinnett County Police try to escape. He got out of his wheelchair and bolted for the door. The patient was hitting the nurse and officer. He had BM on himself and had ripped off his gown. What impressed me about this nurse was after the incident was over, he got down on the floor at the patient’s eye level and spoke very softly to him. He told the patient, “I know this is not where you want to be right now, but we just have to get through.” He very kindly cleaned up the patient and put a new gown on him. He then helped the patient back into the chair and continued on his way. He treated this patient with so much compassion and kindness despite how the patient had behaved. He just continued being his nurse and I totally admire his professionalism in that moment. And even more so, the way he was able to put aside any negative feelings he may have been experiencing in that moment and just focused on caring for the patient. The best nursing moment I have seen.