Bailey VanAs and Taylor Magill
May 2026
Bailey VanAs and Taylor Magill
Dr Richard's Mental Health Clinical
LSU Health School of Nursing
New Orleans
,
LA
United States
Bailey VanAs, Student Nurse
Taylor Magill, Student Nurse
Taylor Magill, Student Nurse
Had Bailey and Taylor not developed a fantastic rapport with this patient, she may have been discharged without this very concerning side effect ever being discussed.
Bailey and Taylor sat in on a treatment team meeting while at UMC for their mental health rotation. They both took an interest in the same patient and worked on getting to know her better over a couple of days. They colored with her, helped her with teenage relationship drama, and most of all, made her feel seen.
Whenever this patient saw Bailey or Taylor walk onto the floor, she would light up! According to the nurses on the unit, it would make this patient's day.
I had tasked them to conduct an AIMS test with the patient, since she had previously reported some EPS. They did not hesitate to follow through with my instructions. The patient was open to their questions, even though she had been quite defensive and uncooperative with the treatment team earlier that morning.
When I saw they had completed the task, I checked in on the results. After reporting their findings, they then stated, "Not sure if this is important or if she's just messing with us, but the patient said that her breasts were leaking."
Knowing that this is a side effect of the patient's medication, I praised them for telling me, even though they seemed unsure about it. They immediately informed the patient's nurse, who then double checked with the patient about this information.
The patient confirmed that she had been lactating even though she is not pregnant nor has been. Upon chart review, her prolactin level was alarmingly high, yet it was not caught when she was admitted. The nurse thanked Bailey and Taylor for their ability to have the patient open up to them, since she had not reported this to anyone on her treatment team.
Their actions prompted a re-draw of the patient's prolactin levels and forced the team to reconsider the type and dosage of antipsychotic medication being prescribed. Had Bailey and Taylor not developed a fantastic rapport with this patient, she may have been discharged without this very concerning side effect ever being discussed.
They provided this patient with a safe space where she could advocate for herself through them. Advocacy and compassion are truly at the core of what it means to be a nurse, even when it seems trivial.
When this patient was discharged, she sought Bailey and Taylor out so she could ask permission to hug them goodbye. Although their time with her was short, their impact was significant.
Whenever this patient saw Bailey or Taylor walk onto the floor, she would light up! According to the nurses on the unit, it would make this patient's day.
I had tasked them to conduct an AIMS test with the patient, since she had previously reported some EPS. They did not hesitate to follow through with my instructions. The patient was open to their questions, even though she had been quite defensive and uncooperative with the treatment team earlier that morning.
When I saw they had completed the task, I checked in on the results. After reporting their findings, they then stated, "Not sure if this is important or if she's just messing with us, but the patient said that her breasts were leaking."
Knowing that this is a side effect of the patient's medication, I praised them for telling me, even though they seemed unsure about it. They immediately informed the patient's nurse, who then double checked with the patient about this information.
The patient confirmed that she had been lactating even though she is not pregnant nor has been. Upon chart review, her prolactin level was alarmingly high, yet it was not caught when she was admitted. The nurse thanked Bailey and Taylor for their ability to have the patient open up to them, since she had not reported this to anyone on her treatment team.
Their actions prompted a re-draw of the patient's prolactin levels and forced the team to reconsider the type and dosage of antipsychotic medication being prescribed. Had Bailey and Taylor not developed a fantastic rapport with this patient, she may have been discharged without this very concerning side effect ever being discussed.
They provided this patient with a safe space where she could advocate for herself through them. Advocacy and compassion are truly at the core of what it means to be a nurse, even when it seems trivial.
When this patient was discharged, she sought Bailey and Taylor out so she could ask permission to hug them goodbye. Although their time with her was short, their impact was significant.