Meet Amanda Posey, LPN (pictured above, right)! She works in the behavioral health unit at Bon Secours Southern Virginia Medical Center and has been working at this community hospital for more than 30 years.
Amanda was recognized by her manager, Sharon Acree, RN, (pictured above, left) for her kindness and compassion toward even the most difficult patients.
“[Amanda] has the ability to make the most difficult [behavioral health] patients feel safe at one of the scariest times in their lives,” Sharon shares. “Being behind locked doors is frightening on its own, and shutting down or being angry is a behavior our unit sees repeatedly. It is tough to get through to these patients and it is not a gift everyone possesses. However, Amanda has that gift. She develops trust and gives her patients hope in a time when they are deflated.”
Amanda notes that being a nurse has been her dream job ever since she was a little girl.
“I have seen a lot of very mentally sick and depressed patients who feel that their life is not worth living,” she explains. “Some of our patients don’t have any family or anybody who cares for them. It is so rewarding when I see these patients start to regain faith in themselves and are ready for a second chance at life. There is a feeling of great satisfaction when a patient comes to me and thanks me for being there and helping them through a horrible experience.”
“Amanda believes with all her heart that people are doing the very best they can,” Sharon continues. “And sometimes people have reached their limit by the time they are admitted to a behavioral health unit and are needing help to protect them from themselves. Amanda takes the time to listen and tells patients what to expect so no surprises are waiting for them. Developing trust opens the door to healing.”
Sharon adds that Amanda also takes the lead on many events the hospital puts on, including food drives, school supply drives, Thanksgiving baskets and toy drives for children around the holiday season.
“Amanda has provided Christmas for parents who were unable to afford Christmas gifts for their children,” Sharon says. “She gives from her heart and soul and thrives on helping others in need. This is what makes her such a wonderful nurse in our unit. Her compassion for others is overwhelming.”
Amanda has a way of motivating her team members to participate in these projects as well. When asked about her dedication to our ministry, Amanda shares it is thanks to excellent leadership as well as teamwork. She feels the real key to providing quality care to patients is by making them feel safe and establishing trust early on in their admission.
In addition to being a nurse and participating in donations and drives at the hospital, Amanda also helps take temporary detention order (TDO) patients to their court hearings and meets with these patients individually to ensure their understanding of the court process.
“My community and my church are very important to me,” Amanda explains. “I believe that my faith gives me strength and the words of support I need to help those in a time of crisis. I find this especially true when taking our patients to court because of a TDO that requires this process. It is a frightening time for these patients when they do not know what to expect. I take the time to explain the process and what to expect to decrease their apprehension. It takes a lot of patience and understanding in dealing with these patients in this process.”
She adds, “my nursing goal for the future is to continue to be the best nurse I can be and to never turn down a person who is in need, who I can help in some small way. Caring for others is why I became a nurse.”
Amanda recently received a Core Culture Award in the Called to Shine program, our ministry’s digital recognition program which allows employees to recognize anyone across the ministry at any time, with personalized messages. Our leaders can allocate points to recognitions they send, and employees can redeem these points for merchandise, experiences and much more.
Check out other stories about our amazing team members.
Also, learn about the health care services we provide at Bon Secours.
