Chelsea E Knight
May 2025
Chelsea E
Knight
,
BSN, RN
Behavioral Health
Swedish Medical Center - Ballard
Seattle
,
WA
United States
She obtained authorization for us to bring in special food items, as he refused hospital food and continued to lose weight.
Our 22-year-old son was recently admitted to the ER/BHU at Swedish Ballard for nearly a month. He is severely autistic, has very limited verbal skills, and functions more like a 5-year-old child. He was living a relatively happy and productive life until four years ago, when he developed episodes of severe agitation and seizure-like outbursts. His condition worsened, and he began refusing food and water and was becoming malnourished.
He had never been away from his family, and this was his first hospital stay. Being away from home in an unfamiliar environment was particularly challenging and anxiety-inducing for him due to his medical condition and developmental challenges. We appreciate the excellent nursing care our son received in the BHU, though one of his nurses, Chelsea Knight, stands out.
Chelsea took the time to get to know him and was able to see him at his own level. She was able to communicate with him calmly and in a way that he could understand and trust. Her warm, kind, compassionate manner put him and our family at ease. She made sure our son had a daily schedule and a calendar in his room. She developed a sense of routine, which was very comforting to him. She obtained authorization for us to bring in special food items, as he refused hospital food and continued to lose weight.
Though we visited him daily, she encouraged him to call us and other family members to provide support when he would have been alone. Chelsea learned how to de-escalate and redirect him when he became agitated. Chelsea’s ability to understand our son’s unique needs and reach him at his own level played a very significant role in the improvement he experienced during his stay.
Several weeks after he was discharged, our son had a recurrence of agitation, and he was admitted to the ER for 5 days. During that time, Chelsea was working at the BHU but visited him in the ER several times during her breaks. She provided reassurance and encouragement and brought him familiar toys from the BHU. She could see that he was cold and brought him a sweatshirt.
Chelsea went above and beyond the call of duty in so many ways. She is exceptional, and we were blessed to have her on our son’s team during our time of crisis. Chelsea made us all feel cared for. She embodies the “CARE” in healthcare. We appreciate Chelsea and her outstanding work does not go unnoticed.
He had never been away from his family, and this was his first hospital stay. Being away from home in an unfamiliar environment was particularly challenging and anxiety-inducing for him due to his medical condition and developmental challenges. We appreciate the excellent nursing care our son received in the BHU, though one of his nurses, Chelsea Knight, stands out.
Chelsea took the time to get to know him and was able to see him at his own level. She was able to communicate with him calmly and in a way that he could understand and trust. Her warm, kind, compassionate manner put him and our family at ease. She made sure our son had a daily schedule and a calendar in his room. She developed a sense of routine, which was very comforting to him. She obtained authorization for us to bring in special food items, as he refused hospital food and continued to lose weight.
Though we visited him daily, she encouraged him to call us and other family members to provide support when he would have been alone. Chelsea learned how to de-escalate and redirect him when he became agitated. Chelsea’s ability to understand our son’s unique needs and reach him at his own level played a very significant role in the improvement he experienced during his stay.
Several weeks after he was discharged, our son had a recurrence of agitation, and he was admitted to the ER for 5 days. During that time, Chelsea was working at the BHU but visited him in the ER several times during her breaks. She provided reassurance and encouragement and brought him familiar toys from the BHU. She could see that he was cold and brought him a sweatshirt.
Chelsea went above and beyond the call of duty in so many ways. She is exceptional, and we were blessed to have her on our son’s team during our time of crisis. Chelsea made us all feel cared for. She embodies the “CARE” in healthcare. We appreciate Chelsea and her outstanding work does not go unnoticed.