I wanted to nominate Caryn after a heroic effort last week. She hadn't expected to find herself at the top of a parking garage assisting a patient that day, but when our security office was notified of the need for help by MUPD as a patient was in crisis at the top of one of our parking garages, she and other nurses stepped into action. After running up several flights of stairs, they, along with our security service, were told the MUPD officer was ready to brief them.

They were told a patient had encountered several recent circumstances and was now suicidal, sitting on the edge of the garage, and ready to jump off. Though they had not encountered this exact situation in the past, they drew on their experience of helping others and decided to step in to help. It took time to establish rapport and trust, but through active listening, therapeutic communication, and their de-escalating strategies, they were able to change the patient's mind. She agreed to step down from the edge and be transported to the ER for care. These situations are not typically handled by nurses, but on that day, that was the need, and they rose to the occasion, saving the patient's life.