Honoring Our Nurses – The Steady Heart of Bonnie Brae
In celebration of National Nurses Week, Bonnie Brae honors the extraordinary nurses and health office staff who provide compassionate, steady care to our youth. Their expertise, empathy, and commitment help young people feel safe and supported through every challenge. As our COO reflects, nurses offer more than clinical care—they bring hope and healing. We thank our nurses for being a vital part of our mission and our youth’s daily victories.
In recognition of National Nurses Week, I want to thank our health office staff for the exceptional work they do every day. They operate with precision and care—navigating medical complexity, behavioral health challenges, and crisis situations while ensuring our youth feel safe, seen, and supported. It’s not easy work, but it’s done with skill, steadiness, and a deep sense of purpose. My own journey in behavioral health began on an inpatient adolescent unit, where I worked alongside nurses as a mental health tech. It gave me a deep appreciation for the critical role nurses play—not only in clinical care but in offering comfort, stability, and hope during some of the most difficult moments in a young person’s life. Later in my career, I had the privilege of supporting nursing teams through department oversight, and from both perspectives, one truth has remained clear: nurses are unwavering in their commitment to the individuals and families they serve. As you know, our mission at Bonnie Brae is empowering youth and families to achieve small victories every day through comprehensive care and education—and many of those victories are made possible by the presence and dedication of our nurses. Whether responding to emergencies, supporting a youth through a tough moment, or simply showing up each day ready to do the work, our nurses are an essential part of what makes Bonnie Brae a healing place. Thank you to our nurses and the entire health office team for the critical role you play in the lives of our youth—and for everything you do to move our mission forward. Christian Whooley Chief Operating Officer, Bonnie Brae
