"Best mental health nurse I have ever encountered"

I am writing to provide formal feedback and recognition for an outstanding nurse, Vanessa, who works at Armadale Hospital’s Leschen Mental Health Unit in Moodjar & Yorgum wards.

Mental health units can be incredibly demanding environments. There are often many patients, numerous doctors and nurses, and an increasing burden of paperwork and computer-based tasks. As a result, staff are understandably required to spend significant time in the office pod, attending to documentation & medications when not doing observations and reviews. In this context, meaningful patient connection can sometimes be difficult to achieve.

However, Vanessa consistently goes above and beyond.

In my experience, when she is assigned as your nurse for her shift, you can knock on the office door without fear of being ignored or seeing an eye roll because Vanessa comes to the door with a genuine smile and a kind heart 100% of the time. She truly listens, treats concerns with respect, and makes sincere efforts to help. More often than not, she is able to assist in resolving issues or de-escalate situations with calm, compassion, and professionalism.

I have spent a considerable amount of time in the Leschen Mental Health Unit (Moodjar & Yorgum wards) over the years due to periods of chronic mental illness. While Vanessa has only been my nurse a handful of times, the impact she has had on me has been profound. She guided me through some of my most dreadful days with patience, dignity, and genuine respect for me as a person, not just a patient or a number within the system.

Her warmth and kindness radiates and I firmly believe this plays a significant role in supporting her patients’ recovery journeys. After 25 years as a consumer within the public mental health system, I can say without hesitation that Vanessa is the best mental health nurse I have encountered.

I strongly believe that Vanessa would be an excellent candidate for formal recognition, including nomination for a mental health nursing award. I would personally nominate her without hesitation. I respectfully request that this feedback be formally recorded on her file and shared with nursing leadership.

Nurses like Vanessa make an immeasurable difference in mental health care. I believe her compassion, presence, and humanity leave lasting impacts on the people she supports.

With sincere appreciation,

ContentCapybara

Former Patient,

Leschen Mental Health Unit (Moodjar ward)