Richard did an exemplary job de-escalating an adult patient with autism during a crisis. The patient had been seen in the ED earlier that day but after being discharged to his care home, managed to evade a facility supervisor, and climb up on the railing of a second story stairwell where he was at risk of falling to the pavement >12 ft below. Richard heard that there was someone in distress and immediately went to help. He had clearly already provided excellent bedside care to the patient, who looked at him in the crowd for comfort and listened as Richard kindly encouraged him to remain calm, hold on to the wall for balance, and stay on the ledge safely for 20-30 minutes until the fire department arrived with additional equipment. The patient then became afraid of the fire team. By then, Richard had moved to the midpoint of the stairs and was able to take the patient's hand and safely get him back over the ledge on solid ground and return to the hospital. It was a testament to the care and rapport that had been established at the bedside and the calm and collected professionalism of an excellent ED Nurse.

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A patient, who was on the autism spectrum, had been discharged and was leaving with his caregiver when he unexpectedly ran up the outside staircase of the ER entrance. Upon reaching the top, he climbed over the railing and sat on the ledge, a dangerous height above the ground. Security quickly witnessed the situation and called for nursing assistance. The nursing supervisor immediately responded and saw the patient standing on the ledge, at which point he reached out to Richard, who had developed a rapport with the patient during his time in the ER, to assist. 

At the time, Richard was in the process of discharging this patient from the track in North, but without hesitation, he stopped what he was doing and ran outside to help. When Richard arrived, the patient was swaying dangerously on the ledge, and LAFD was in route to assist with a potential rescue. In the meantime, ER nursing staff had already set up gurneys below the ledge in case the patient chose to jump. 

What followed was a testament to Richard’s skill, composure, and empathy. He approached the patient calmly and was able to establish a trusting rapport with him. Through his reassuring presence and careful communication, Richard was able to convince the patient to come down from the ledge safely. His ability to defuse the situation and connect with the patient in such a tense moment was nothing short of remarkable. 

This is not the first time Richard has demonstrated exceptional care for vulnerable patients, including those with mental health or developmental challenges. His ability to remain calm under pressure, his genuine compassion, and his quick thinking have made him an invaluable asset to our Emergency Department. Richard’s actions on that night helped prevent a potentially tragic outcome, and I believe he truly exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding nurse deserving of recognition.

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I remember the morning I read the email about Richard intervening on behalf of the patient who was suicidal on the stairwell. He coaxed the patient down. I am not surprised by his actions; Richard has a way of connecting with patients. He’s genuine and very easygoing. Richard is well deserving of the DAISY Award, and he represents a strong team that’s committed to the service of the most vulnerable patients. Let’s celebrate Richard today for making a difference in the outcome of a patient. I am proud to be his Nurse Manager, strong work, Richard!