"Genuine compassion and conscientious duty of care"

I am writing to convey my appreciation for the exceptional nursing care provided by Calvin. Throughout a five year period of an extremely tempestuous time of my mother's rapidly declining health, my mother has experienced Calvin's practice of nursing within a number of different demographic locations. These include: sheltered accommodation flat; psychiatric hospitalisation, Residential home and Nursing Home. It has to be highlighted that from the outset when we first met Calvin, her nursing practise was vividly characterised with enthusiasm, kindness, respect and a genuine pragmatic concern for my mother's psychological, physical, social, environmental and medical well-being.

Calvin's effectiveness as a psychiatric nurse becomes most evident by the way she attentively listens and offers encouragement to my mother. Calvin has a repertoire of both "formal" and "informal" approaches to communicate effectively with my mother. I highlight these particular factors because often my mother can be resistive to care, shouting at staff and refusing essential medication. During these extremely challenging times; whenever the nursing staff at Rosedene are unable to effectively cope with my mother's challenging behaviour, Calvin becomes an indispensable asset to both the medical and nursing team.

It has to be emphatically noted, that Calvin's effectiveness as a nurse practitioner has been achieved through diligent building and nurturing a strong rapport and trusting relationship with my mother. So, whenever my mother exhibits challenging behaviour or becomes extremely agitated with carers and nursing staff attempting to deliver care, Calvin's visits and understanding approach demonstrates her medical awareness and psychological insights into my mother's complex health needs. She has the ability to appropriate and apply her valuable interpersonal skills, which incorporates both patience and perseverance in her vital role to ensure that my mother remains consistently concordant with prescribed mental and physical health medications. Calvin also ensures that necessary medical reviews are carried out and inexperienced nursing staff at Rosedene are consistently following the correct nursing procedures and medical protocols. I do strongly believe that without Calvin's specialised support Timely interventions and monitoring (when necessary) my mother's health needs, my mother would be at risk of not having adequate specialised psychiatric care. Particularly during a time when senior management and nursing staff at Rosedene have been rapidly and constantly changing.

I have been extremely impressed by Calvin's holistic approach to nursing and her detailed and coherent delivery of care. There is no doubt that Calvin has a wide range of personal and professional skills, which have equipped her well while navigating my mother's challenging and complex health needs.

It also has to be highlighted that Calvin always remembers the importance of the anniversary date of my mother's husband's death. This is another graphic illustration of Calvin's genuine compassion and conscientious duty of care. Her recognising my mother's individuality and uniqueness means that Calvin has a comprehensive understanding of my mother's essential health care needs.

Equally significant to note: Calvin fully understands the importance of working in 'partnership' with both 'patient', other 'caring practitioners' and relevant family representative'; to ensure that her care strategy and method is both appropriate and effective. This important 'partnership dynamic' has been graphically illustrated throughout her nursing practice. Although her principal focus is 'always' on my mother, Calvin regularly enquires about the well being of myself and immediate family members. Calvin has binocular nursing care vision! She always has one eye on her patient and the other on the overall picture! Therefore Calvin gains valuable insights to mother's care needs and well-being.

Indeed, Calvin is to be commended for her effective and efficient approach to psychiatric nursing. From my observations and experience she has been consistently reliable, supportive, co-operative, sensitively caring, well-liked by my mother, punctilious in all matters relating to safeguarding. She is loyal and committed to her vocation of nursing and conscientious in her duty of care.

Calvin -thank you for your care and for all that you do