Speech: Laura Crawford Excellence in Nursing Practice Award
2010 Winner: JEAN COLLINS, LPN
by Rita McGregor
I have had the privilege of knowing Jean Collins throughout her career and she never lost her passion and commitment over all these years. Jean had a dream of working in Psychiatry long before it was a specialty open to LPNs. Her belief in the growth of the profession and her thirst for knowledge allowed her to be ready for one of the first positions open to LPNs. She never looked back nor did the Peter Lougheed in Calgary.
Jean is well respected by her team of social workers, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and patients. They agree that Jean immediately stood out as a great nurse with a real commitment to being a team player.
She utilizes evidence-based practice for her work and puts great emphasis on study and professional development. Her strong education and advance knowledge has seen her skillfully bring concerns to various psychiatrists attentions that were missed by other professionals. Once, a 75 year old gentleman well know to the treatment team was complaining of constipation for over a week. He became delirious, manic, agitated and aggressive which was uncharacteristic for this man. Jean assessed this man and subsequently paged both the psychiatrist and hospital physician alerting them of her fears this man was septic and needed immediate diagnosis. Her concerns were confirmed, a treatment plan was set in place and within days he was able to continue his psychiatric treatment and ultimately return to the community for placement.
Jean is also known and respected for developing strong behavioral/care plans that demonstrate the patient is suitable for placement in a variety of settings. Because of the comprehensiveness of the plan, it is an effective way to reduce problem behaviors and remove barriers to placement. Since Jean excels in this area, she has earned the titled of “Queen of Care Plans” and has assumed the responsibility for teaching and sharing her skills with other nursing staff. She is frequently sought out by both psychiatrist and management to deal with the most complex clients on her unit to effectively deal with barriers to discharge.
Along with everything her greatest love and commitment is to the advocacy of her clients. The daughter of a 92 year old patient stated how impressed she was with Jeans commitment to her mother: “Jean has turned my mom’s life around and is a great source of inspiration for her”
The management and staff of Peter Lougheed's Units 25 and 27 strongly recommend Jean Collins as the recipient of the 2010 Laura Crawford Excellence in Nursing Practice Award.
Photo (l-r) Jean Collins, LPN and Rita McGregor (photo by Carolyn Black)
Speech: Laura Crawford Excellence in Nursing Practice Award
2010 Winner: JEAN COLLINS, LPN
by Rita McGregor
I have had the privilege of knowing Jean Collins throughout her career and she never lost her passion and commitment over all these years. Jean had a dream of working in Psychiatry long before it was a specialty open to LPNs. Her belief in the growth of the profession and her thirst for knowledge allowed her to be ready for one of the first positions open to LPNs. She never looked back nor did the Peter Lougheed in Calgary.
Jean is well respected by her team of social workers, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and patients. They agree that Jean immediately stood out as a great nurse with a real commitment to being a team player.
She utilizes evidence-based practice for her work and puts great emphasis on study and professional development. Her strong education and advance knowledge has seen her skillfully bring concerns to various psychiatrists attentions that were missed by other professionals. Once, a 75 year old gentleman well know to the treatment team was complaining of constipation for over a week. He became delirious, manic, agitated and aggressive which was uncharacteristic for this man. Jean assessed this man and subsequently paged both the psychiatrist and hospital physician alerting them of her fears this man was septic and needed immediate diagnosis. Her concerns were confirmed, a treatment plan was set in place and within days he was able to continue his psychiatric treatment and ultimately return to the community for placement.
Jean is also known and respected for developing strong behavioral/care plans that demonstrate the patient is suitable for placement in a variety of settings. Because of the comprehensiveness of the plan, it is an effective way to reduce problem behaviors and remove barriers to placement. Since Jean excels in this area, she has earned the titled of “Queen of Care Plans” and has assumed the responsibility for teaching and sharing her skills with other nursing staff. She is frequently sought out by both psychiatrist and management to deal with the most complex clients on her unit to effectively deal with barriers to discharge.
Along with everything her greatest love and commitment is to the advocacy of her clients. The daughter of a 92 year old patient stated how impressed she was with Jeans commitment to her mother: “Jean has turned my mom’s life around and is a great source of inspiration for her”
The management and staff of Peter Lougheed's Units 25 and 27 strongly recommend Jean Collins as the recipient of the 2010 Laura Crawford Excellence in Nursing Practice Award.
Photo (l-r) Jean Collins, LPN and Rita McGregor (photo by Carolyn Black)