There was a shift where I was completely overwhelmed, but trying hard not to show it. Ms. Dina noticed without me saying a word. She asked me to step aside for a moment, listened to me without any judgment, and then adjusted my assignment so I could manage safely. I went back to the floor feeling supported.

***

In the beginning, I was very anxious about making mistakes. Ms. Dina sat with me during a shift and e explained everything calmly and encouraged me until I felt confident. Because of her, I understand what I’m doing and why.

***

When I first joined the unit, I was scared I wouldn’t fit in. I didn’t know anyone, and everything felt different. From day one, Ms. Dina warmly introduced me to the team, explained how things work, and checked in on me every day. She made sure I never felt alone. She created a welcoming environment where I felt respected and accepted, even as a newcomer.

***

We had a very distressed patient who was crying continuously and refusing to talk to anyone on the team. I felt helpless and didn’t know how to reach him. Ms Dina came to the room, introduced herself calmly, and stayed with him for nearly two hours. She spoke to him with so much patience and compassion that, slowly, he started opening up.

Afterward, she took the time to explain to me what she did and how to approach similar situations. She didn’t just help the patient; she also used it as a learning moment for me, and one time we had two patients who were both struggling with depression, and their birthdays happened while they were admitted. Most people would have treated it like any other day, but Ms. Dina didn’t. She organized small birthday celebrations for each of them, arranged a cake, involved the team, and made sure they felt seen and valued. The atmosphere in the unit changed completely; both patients smiled and interacted more after that. She reminded all of us that dignity, kindness, and emotional care are essential to mental health nursing.

***

There was a day when everything on the unit felt heavy and more than I could handle. I didn’t even ask for help because I didn’t want to bother anyone. Ms. Dina still came immediately, like she always does, and supported me until everything calmed down. She didn’t leave me to struggle alone.

***

When I first came to the hospital, everything was new. Anew country, a new environment, new faces. I was scared and unsure of myself, but then I met Ms. Dina. From the very first conversation, she made me feel safe — as if I wasn’t away from home at all. She believed in me before I even believed in myself. She supported me, guided me, and stood by me through every challenge.

She doesn’t lead with authority; she leads with kindness, empathy, and heart. Not every manager becomes a mentor. Not every manager becomes a sister. But she became both.

Thank you, Ms. Dina, for being a reason we come to work with a smile, and for proving that leadership can be human, warm, and inspiring. I am truly grateful to have you as my manager. 

***

I once texted late at night because I was scared I had done something wrong. I expected a reply the next morning, but Ms. Dina replied instantly. She called me, explained everything step by step, and made me feel safe. She is always accessible, always available, and always responsive, no matter the time.

***

One day, during a stressful shift, I was losing control inside and trying not to show it. Ms. Dina didn’t ignore it; she noticed and stayed beside me until everything was okay. She is always there for us, even when we don’t ask. She never leaves us to face pressure alone.

***

I once had an urgent personal situation and needed to leave early. I was scared to ask because I didn’t want to cause a problem. When I told her, Ms. Dina didn’t hesitate; she handled the coverage herself and told me, “Don’t worry, go and take care of your life.” She cares about us as humans, not just employees, and she always responds to our needs with empathy.

***

There was a patient crisis, and I panicked inside, not knowing what to do. Instead of taking over and making me feel incapable, Ms. Dina guided me step by step through the situation and helped me think through every decision. Afterward, I told my colleagues, “she solves any problem I face,” because that’s truly how it feels — she is always there with a solution and with calm thinking.

***

I once made a mistake and came to work terrified that I would be blamed. Instead of criticizing me, Ms. Dina asked me calmly what went wrong and how we could prevent it in the future. She helps me learn and read, and she encourages me instead of making me feel small. She turned a moment of fear into a learning opportunity and made me feel safe to grow, not afraid to try.

***

There was a recurrent issue in the unit that we kept complaining about, and we thought nothing could change. Instead of letting us stay frustrated, Ms. Dina gathered us, listened to us, and asked us to analyze the root causes together. She helped us think critically and be part of the solution. She didn’t just fix the system herself; she taught us how to fix it.

***

I once asked her for an answer to a clinical question, expecting her to just tell me what to do. Instead, she asked me, “What do you think is the safest option, and why?” She wanted me to think like a leader. Because of her, I don’t just follow, I analyze, question, and decide.

***

There was a moment when a family was extremely upset and demanding, and I was too nervous to speak. Ms. Dina guided me on how to talk to them, how to stay calm, and how to protect both the patient and myself. She stayed beside me, not in front of me, so I could learn. She always encourages critical thinking in real situations, not just in theory.

***

I used to doubt myself and rely too much on others to make decisions. With time, and with her constant support and questions, I started to trust my judgment. She helped me grow from someone who was afraid to act into someone who can lead, because, as we always say among us, “she helps me to learn and encourages me always.”

***

There was a time when we were constantly being pulled to other units and started burning out. We were too tired and scared to complain. Ms. Dina took it seriously, collected the data, and spoke on our behalf. She stood in front of leadership and defended us. For us, she is “advocating for the team” in the real sense, not only by words, but by action, and that day our census in level 9 was down to 10 beds only.

***

I once worked hard in silence, believing nobody noticed what I was doing. Then one day, I discovered that Ms. Dina had spoken about me in a leadership meeting and nominated me for recognition. She made me feel seen, and she makes sure our efforts reach the right ears.

***

When we faced issues with schedules and workload, she didn’t just say, “This is how it is.” She explained our situation to leadership and pushed for fairer arrangements. She is always interested in everything in the unit, including our well-being. Not only tasks, but she also brings us chocolate and coffee, and does a yoga class on a weekly basis for our mental well-being.

***

There was a situation where a colleague was spoken to harshly by someone from another department. Before any of us reacted, Ms. Dina stepped in and professionally defended her nurse. She protected her dignity and made it clear that respect for her team is non-negotiable. We felt proud knowing our manager doesn’t let us stand alone.

***

We needed training and educational support but didn’t know how to ask. Ms. Dina requested courses, workshops, and development opportunities for us. She doesn’t keep chances for herself; she shares them. One of us said it simply: “She helps me to learn, read, and encourages me,” and this is true for the whole team. Many of us are shy or afraid to speak directly to leadership. Ms. Dina carries our voices. She takes our concerns, ideas, and needs to higher management and brings back answers. When we feel powerless, she is the one who advocates for us and reminds us that our voice matters.

***

Sometimes decisions come from leadership that affect our daily work, and at first, we feel confused. Every time this happens, Ms. Dina sits with us, explains what is required, and connects it to patient safety and quality. She makes sure we understand why, not just what. She “builds trust by listening” and communicating clearly.

***

When we share concerns about workload, documentation, or processes, she doesn’t ignore them. She collects them, organizes them, and presents them to leadership in a professional way. She really ensure that the needs of the teams are communicated to organization leadership, she also does the opposite, when leadership shares new priorities, KPIs, or directions, she brings them back to us in a simple, understandable way. She doesn’t just forward emails. She explains face-to-face, answers our questions, and checks if we are comfortable. This is why we say, “she interest for every thing in the unit,” because she makes sure nothing is lost in communication.

***

Some of us are not confident in speaking in meetings, so she gives us the chance to talk to her privately. She then takes our words exactly as we say them and delivers them upward. In this way, even the quietest voice in the unit reaches leadership through her.

***

When something positive comes from leadership, a compliment, good statistics, or appreciation, she returns to the unit with joy and shares it with us. She reminds us that the success of the unit is our success and that leadership recognizes our work. Once, we got 97% in Press Ganey, she got us pizza, and we celebrated our achievement together.

***

Many of us came to this hospital in a new country, a new environment, and new faces,feeling scared and unsure. From the very beginning, Ms. Dina made us feel safe, as if we were not away from home at all. One of us said, “I sense she understands what I feel and what I will do,” and this is exactly how it feels she reads our hearts before we speak.

***

There were days when I arrived at work smiling on the outside but sad on the inside. Ms. Dina would look at me once and know something was wrong. She would take me aside, listen without judgment, and remind me that my feelings are valid. Her compassion is real.

***

One time my family called fom abroad and told me that my brother is admitted in CCU for heart failure, I called her directly crying not knowing what to do and we were in shortage and i was shy to ask for off, she directly rearranged my schedule and gave me 5 days off and she told me what to do step by step, she made feel so conformtable as if my sister is with me.

***

On difficult days, when stress is high and emotions are heavy, she still talks to us with respect. Even when we are tired or slow, she never shouts, never humiliates. As one staff member said simply, “She respects her teams,” and we feel that in every interaction.

***

She shows compassion not only with staff but also with patients. Staying two hours with a distressed patient, organizing birthdays for depressed patients, and making sure they feel seen — these are not tasks in a job description, they are acts of the heart. She reminds us that mental health nursing is about soul, not only symptoms.

***

Many of us say she became more than a manager; she became a mentor and, for some, like a sister. She believes in us before we believe in ourselves, supports us in every challenge, and is one of the reasons we come to work with a smile. With Ms Dina, leadership truly becomes human, warm, and inspiring.