Behavioral Care Nursing takes a special kind of person and rarely gets the recognition it deserves. I arrived at the ED to prevent myself from ending my own life. My ED visit made me question if I had made the right decision. However, when I was transferred to the Behavioral Health Unit and met my sister Nurse Sandy, I knew that I was in the right place.

Sandy immediately showed compassion by getting everything I could possibly need to feel comfortable. She acknowledged my feelings were real, and we just needed to work together to learn how to handle the emotions. She encouraged me to do things that might make me happy. Sandy developed a level of trust that I've never had with a previous caretaker. She learned about my interests and used them as conversation starters to distract me when my emotions would begin to rise.

One day, Sandy was not with me, and I had an emotional outburst from a misunderstanding with a new nurse. She switched back to my care and advocated on my behalf. Any time Sandy was with me, I was always assured that I would have the gold standard of care.

As a healthcare worker of 10+ years, as well as a leader and educator, I always lead my team and students to treat each patient as an individual who is here on the worst day in their life. Sandy used her love for patient care and nursing by utilizing the ASPIRE values held by UVACH. During a time when I could not care for myself at all, Nurse Sandy was an advocate for the weak, a shield for the scared, and an anchor through the storm. I could not be more thankful for the impact she had on me. Respectfully and thankfully submitted.