Raquel Collier-Jennings
December 2025
Raquel
Collier-Jennings
,
LPN
OB/GYN Clinic
Albany Medical Center
Albany
,
NY
United States
Her commitment to take an extra step to put these larger BP cuffs in all the patient rooms made me feel heard, seen, and respected.
There have been several times that I have experienced challenges when asking for my blood pressure to be taken with a cuff that fits my arm. As a person who lives in a large body, I need the size 13 thigh cuff. On Friday, when Raquel was caring for me, she was kind and receptive to my request, and she took action to find a blood pressure cuff that would fit my arm and ensure an accurate reading. She also stated that she would make sure they were in the other rooms. While this may seem like something small, it really made a difference to me as Raquel listened to me and cared for me in a way that met my needs. Because she took an extra couple of minutes to find the BP cuff that fit my arm, the reading she took that day was accurate. Her commitment to take an extra step to put these larger BP cuffs in all the patient rooms made me feel heard, seen, and respected. I'm confident I am not the only patient who needs a larger BP cuff. Now, because of Raquel’s actions, patients can more easily have their needs met, and nurses can more easily get accurate BP readings. Raquel’s actions described here are the kinds of actions needed to make health care patient-centered and more inclusive. The seemingly simple steps she took lowered the barrier for me and others in large bodies to access health care, where we are treated with dignity and equipment that fits our bodies is readily available. I truly hope that Raquel will be recognized for these actions, as they have made a big impact on me, and I am certain they will make an impact on others as well!