Terri is a nurse who consistently goes above and beyond to make sure our non-English speaking patients feel nurtured and loved. She is always on time and hits the ground running at the beginning of her shifts, keeps her energy high, and is so passionate about the care of our patients with any extra challenges. Our postpartum unit provides service to many mothers from the refugee community who require translation services for every interaction, and Terri takes the time to make sure they feel safe and cared for.

One of the many recent examples of this was when our unit was busy with many patients requiring extra care. One of her patients was a refugee with a history of severe trauma and torture. Locating a translator was difficult in this language, but Terri used every avenue available to ensure translation services were used even for the smallest of conversations. Hand holding, reassurance, time at the bedside, walking in the hallways when the patient felt scared- all established a special level of trust with this patient. She made phone calls to nutrition services so the patient had food and snacks she felt were safe for her to eat, and kept social work and case management updated related to trauma care and psychiatric concerns. Explanation in her own language, from everything to feeding her NICU infant, to her own follow-up, was given with special care and patience. Terri was truly a "mama-bear" to this patient during her stay, and this type of compassion is demonstrated by Terri during every shift. She knows all the tips and tricks for things like headaches and vomiting, but also sees the value in a hug, a walk, and a soft conversation.

Walking with a patient to the NICU or the outpatient pharmacy with translation on her i-mobile the whole time is not uncommon when Terri takes care of someone in need of that extra time. Postpartum can be exhausting and stressful for a new mom who doesn't speak the language or has a trauma history, but Terri's professionalism mixed with so much love gives these moms support and confidence! Terri is an essential nurse on our team and deserves to be recognized for her extraordinary care!