I have worked with Gyver for the past year and a half. Every day I appreciate him more and more! We work in Ontario’s only High Secure Forensic Psychiatry program and it can be a very challenging setting. It is so easy to burnout, lose your patience and become frustrated with the mental health and legal system. But, Gyver shows up every shift to lead our team with motivation and compassion. He brings humour and light into a difficult work environment (example: always saying hello and checking in with each staff, making small and subtle jokes that make people smile, ensures that new staff feel safe and comfortable to learn and ask questions). These small acts of kindness go a long way to support staff, help everyone feel appreciated and to create an environment where the best patient care can be provided.

Within his team lead/nursing role he manages many of the organizing and administrative tasks, addresses patient questions and concerns, provides direction and liaises with the allied health team, management and external partners. I appreciate his ability to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure that patients, families, physicians and staff feel valued, informed and included in decision making. An example of this collaboration effort occurred recently: There was a safety concern raised by staff and patients, in brief, an individual was feeling quite anxious and had concerns for their safety on the unit. Gyver coordinated staff who have good therapeutic rapport with the individual to meet with them and discuss concerns. He provided timely updates the physicians and management. He consulted additional supports (security, patient advocate, hospitalists, pharmacy, rehab services) to help make an informed decisions and support this individual. He checked in regularly over the next week regarding wellness and made sure that everyone involved was updated and comfortable. This sounds simple.. but he does this every day, multiple times per day. This high level of communication and compassion isn’t often seen and it is so appreciated. Sometimes this collaboration and professional discussion has resulted in policy and rule changes that improve patient care long term (i.e., improved access to groceries/food items, improved access to physical health follow up, increased patient privacy and measures to ensure dignity is respected).

Gyver is often looked to for guidance when there are challenging situations. He is a great advocate for patients and staff. He is innovative and looks for solutions that promote patient choice and independence while also mitigating risks to the staff and public. Another example of a time Gyver went above and beyond: The team was working with a patient who was experiencing significant confusion and delusional thought content. He was feeling threatened and unsafe in his room and was becoming angry as a result. Gyver worked with the clinical team to offer a safe, quiet space for this individual to rest. His response was timely, innovative and compassionate. Gyver coordinated the team and drafted a plan to support this individual in their time of acute need. The result was of the intervention was improved patient well-being, new environmental intervention options for the unit and staff safety and comfort overnight.

Additionally, during a Covid19 outbreak on the unit, Gyver look the lead to coordinate patient care. It was a time of many unknowns and stressors. He worked with the team to draft a plan for care that ensured that each individual received their meals, snacks and medications in a timely manner, each person was able to shower daily and access fresh air. When basic needs were covered he encouraged worked with the team to improve patient quality of life through the outbreak i.e., coordinating orders from the Canteen, connecting patient with their families via Zoom, providing coffee and tea. It was a show to leadership that put patient’s first. Daily, he provides recovery-oriented patient care while balancing everyone’s safety. He is our go-to person, and works hard without compliant. He definitely deserves recognition during nursing week (and every week), we thank him!

Nominated by: Kate Aben (Occupational Therapist)