Michelle is foremost a patient and staff advocate. I have seen her go toe to toe with a physician when she felt the patient needed something they were not getting. And although they may not have agreed, the physician did talk with her and listen to what her views were on the way the patients treatment was going and consider her opinion. She is very protective of our patients and an advocate for those with mental illness.

I have seen Michelle in many situations where patients are escalating and she, with her calm, no nonsense manner will de-escalate the situation to prevent anyone from being hurt. She also, in just the past month, prevented two active, potentially lethal, suicide attempts by vigilently following our safety policy for room checks.

She is a formal leader on the floor, not because of her charge nurse title, but because the staff know that they can count on her support and assistance when they need it. She is a great mentor to new staff, patiently explaining our patients needs and how to care for them.

She cares for our patients outside of the unit by organizing our annual Christmas adoption of our former patients that have been transferred to local nursing facilities. We, as a group, attend the party, handing out gifts and celebrate the holiday with them, especially those with no family support. For many of our patients, we are the only continuity in a chaotic life. Last year she organized a bake sale to help support the NAMI walk that raises money to be used in our community for mental health services.

Michelle knows that mental illness does not just reside behind the locked doors of our department, it touches everyone at some time in their lives and it takes a special person to care so deeply for this vulnerable population.