Scott Abcarian
October 2020
Scott
Abcarian
,
BSN, RN-BC
Adult Psychiatry
Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA
Los Angeles
,
CA

 

 

 

If it hadn't been for Scott retrieving these materials, the holiday would not have been so much fun. All patients were able to sing along and this was a miracle to all the patients on the unit.
Scott was kind in his own special way, which means enacting boundaries with psychiatric patients. Like most medical procedures... very painful at the time, but much better and helpful to the patient in the long run.
Scott was explicitly kind when he went out of his way to gather information on the internet for the patients. One request was for medicine information, and another request was for Jewish holiday information (blessings and songs for Hanukkah). This nurse went above and beyond. He provided/retrieved very detailed and relevant information regarding medications and also helped all the Jewish patients by printing out the history, songs, and blessings for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Honestly, the patients had a great time singing Adam Sandler's Hanukkah song and all the others. If it hadn't been for Scott retrieving these materials, the holiday would not have been so much fun. All patients were able to sing along and this was a miracle to all the patients on the unit (everyone sang, even non-Jewish patients).
Additionally, this nurse printed out chapters of a book called "The Untethered Soul." This book is about letting go of ego and getting beyond our own several predicaments. Originally, Scott gave this book to one of the younger patients, but soon the book spread like wildfire and everybody was reading the book. Many of the patients were discussing the book in true book club style, over coffee with breakfast or late at night. After reading a few chapters I laughed so hard at all the craziness on the ward and found relief from the environment.
Think of the sick and suffering, the discarded, the stigmatized, the misunderstood, and the abused who suffer from the disease of the mind. Imagine or remember the patients in the movie, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." And now imagine, instead of the dim, boring, uncaring, insensitive staff/unit- think of a real hero (Scott) who helps these people stay active, get better, smile, and heal.
In any event, Scott is one of the reasons why UCLA is #1 in the West.