Ryanne E Connell
April 2026
Ryanne E
Connell
,
BSN, RN
BHS-ECT
University of Iowa Health Care
Iowa City
,
IA
United States
They are tireless advocates who coordinate every detail so that the patient will continue to receive the best possible care after discharge.
I am writing to wholeheartedly nominate two exceptional nurses, Megan Nicholson (Lahann) and Ryanne Connell, for their outstanding contributions to our ECT procedures and inpatient psychiatry unit.
Megan and Ryanne embody compassionate, patient-centered care. In the realm of interventional psychiatry-particularly during ECT-patients often face some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Megan and Ryanne are truly the heart of our interventional psychiatry team. They bring compassion and personalized care to patients who are often facing the most severe challenges of mental illness. These patients often experience stigma, impaired trust of the healthcare system, and face numerous other barriers to care. Megan and Ryanne have an extraordinary ability to bring comfort, dignity, and a sense of calm to each patient. They tailor their approach to meet the unique needs of individuals with severe mental illness, including those with communication barriers and sensory sensitivities. Time and again, they go above and beyond to ensure that each patient feels safe and supported. This may include modifying the pre-op environment to reduce sensory stimulation, playing music to patient's preference, utilizing social stories and other communication tools to meet the unique needs of each patient.
They also excel in adapting the environment to each patient's needs. I've seen them take the time to learn a patient's favorite calming music or adjust the noise level in the ECT suite to reduce sensory stress. In one remarkable case, they helped a patient with autism and intellectual disability-who had a history of severe challenging behaviors-feel so comfortable that weekly maintenance ECT actually became his favorite part of the week. Despite this patient having hundreds of code greens with high restraint use on the inpatient unit, this patient has had zero behavioral challenges through treatments. He has never required restraints at any point in the process, including IV placement. Despite the procedure's intimidating nature, Megan and Ryanne created a safe, trusting atmosphere that made all the difference.
They have collaborated with interdisciplinary hospital team members to help other hospital teams support this patient through additional procedures. Most recently, they provided detailed support and guidance to the OR/Recovery team at SFCH for a dental procedure. They collaborate seamlessly with interdisciplinary teams, advocate tirelessly for patient needs, and even coordinate care transitions to ensure continuity and consistency. As this patient now prepares for a complex discharge, Megan and Ryanne have been working with an outside hospital's ECT team to ensure a smooth transition of care. They are tireless advocates who coordinate every detail so that the patient will continue to receive the best possible care after discharge.
They recently rescheduled a patient's maintenance ECT session so that the patient could enjoy their birthday without any added stress. I could share countless other examples, but it's also important to mention that they never forget the basics. The ECT suite requires meticulous attention to detail due to the number of procedures. Without a doubt, Megan and Ryanne have prevented numerous medication errors, while also ensuring the process runs smoothly for patients and providers. Their dedication doesn't stop there. On the inpatient psychiatry unit, they are equally remarkable. Residents and colleagues alike know Megan and Ryanne as trusted, highly knowledgeable, and skilled professionals who never hesitate to share their expertise or lend a helping hand. They are also known for their warm, humble approach and for making residents, students, and staff feel included and respected. They create an environment of inclusion and respect, making everyone feel like a valued part of the team. They communicate effectively, they are reliable, and they support their colleagues whenever necessary. They never hesitate to advocate for patients or go the extra mile to ensure a sense of safety and trust. Even something as routine as getting an EKG, blood draw, or blood pressure reading can be a daunting experience for some patients, and Megan and Ryanne handle these moments with grace and empathy.
Megan and Ryanne are a consistent, reassuring presence for both patients and staff. They create a positive and supportive work environment for all staff. They are well-known and admired by faculty, residents, and other team members. They are a role model for all.
In short, Megan and Ryanne exemplify the very best of nursing. They go above and beyond in ways that profoundly impact patient care, and I can think of no one more deserving of recognition, whether through a DAISY Award, a SPOT Award, or any accolade that honors their exceptional dedication.
Megan and Ryanne embody compassionate, patient-centered care. In the realm of interventional psychiatry-particularly during ECT-patients often face some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Megan and Ryanne are truly the heart of our interventional psychiatry team. They bring compassion and personalized care to patients who are often facing the most severe challenges of mental illness. These patients often experience stigma, impaired trust of the healthcare system, and face numerous other barriers to care. Megan and Ryanne have an extraordinary ability to bring comfort, dignity, and a sense of calm to each patient. They tailor their approach to meet the unique needs of individuals with severe mental illness, including those with communication barriers and sensory sensitivities. Time and again, they go above and beyond to ensure that each patient feels safe and supported. This may include modifying the pre-op environment to reduce sensory stimulation, playing music to patient's preference, utilizing social stories and other communication tools to meet the unique needs of each patient.
They also excel in adapting the environment to each patient's needs. I've seen them take the time to learn a patient's favorite calming music or adjust the noise level in the ECT suite to reduce sensory stress. In one remarkable case, they helped a patient with autism and intellectual disability-who had a history of severe challenging behaviors-feel so comfortable that weekly maintenance ECT actually became his favorite part of the week. Despite this patient having hundreds of code greens with high restraint use on the inpatient unit, this patient has had zero behavioral challenges through treatments. He has never required restraints at any point in the process, including IV placement. Despite the procedure's intimidating nature, Megan and Ryanne created a safe, trusting atmosphere that made all the difference.
They have collaborated with interdisciplinary hospital team members to help other hospital teams support this patient through additional procedures. Most recently, they provided detailed support and guidance to the OR/Recovery team at SFCH for a dental procedure. They collaborate seamlessly with interdisciplinary teams, advocate tirelessly for patient needs, and even coordinate care transitions to ensure continuity and consistency. As this patient now prepares for a complex discharge, Megan and Ryanne have been working with an outside hospital's ECT team to ensure a smooth transition of care. They are tireless advocates who coordinate every detail so that the patient will continue to receive the best possible care after discharge.
They recently rescheduled a patient's maintenance ECT session so that the patient could enjoy their birthday without any added stress. I could share countless other examples, but it's also important to mention that they never forget the basics. The ECT suite requires meticulous attention to detail due to the number of procedures. Without a doubt, Megan and Ryanne have prevented numerous medication errors, while also ensuring the process runs smoothly for patients and providers. Their dedication doesn't stop there. On the inpatient psychiatry unit, they are equally remarkable. Residents and colleagues alike know Megan and Ryanne as trusted, highly knowledgeable, and skilled professionals who never hesitate to share their expertise or lend a helping hand. They are also known for their warm, humble approach and for making residents, students, and staff feel included and respected. They create an environment of inclusion and respect, making everyone feel like a valued part of the team. They communicate effectively, they are reliable, and they support their colleagues whenever necessary. They never hesitate to advocate for patients or go the extra mile to ensure a sense of safety and trust. Even something as routine as getting an EKG, blood draw, or blood pressure reading can be a daunting experience for some patients, and Megan and Ryanne handle these moments with grace and empathy.
Megan and Ryanne are a consistent, reassuring presence for both patients and staff. They create a positive and supportive work environment for all staff. They are well-known and admired by faculty, residents, and other team members. They are a role model for all.
In short, Megan and Ryanne exemplify the very best of nursing. They go above and beyond in ways that profoundly impact patient care, and I can think of no one more deserving of recognition, whether through a DAISY Award, a SPOT Award, or any accolade that honors their exceptional dedication.