Cheryl Morris, BSN, RN, CPN
Pediatrics

Cheryl is an NUS on Peds/PICU. She has given years of service to the department, has worked her way up at Mission and was originally a Diploma nurse and is currently pursuing her MSN. Among her many roles, she is the Mission Hospital proctor for the CPN exam and is an active educator for the Pediatric Nurse Resource Program. Cheryl is a true mentor and encourager to staff to continually grow in their profession and with their education. Her years of wisdom, example, and expertise is invaluable on the unit. She always upholds the highest levels of professionalism and leadership as well. Many on our unit would not have thought they could continue their education, join committees, and perform education inservices and research projects without her encouragement, myself included. Clinically, she is likewise compassionate and you know she always “has your back” and will stay over as needed to help with patient care. This is more than a job to her, this is truly a calling.

On one night in particular, Cheryl was able to make a breakthrough with a family and a patient in ways no one else was. This patient was in a state of psychological crisis and emotional distress that was manifesting as seizure like activity. While the rest of the staff did their best medically, she was able to get the family and patient to finally reveal what was underlying and truly going on emotionally, to open up and cry as they were held by her and nurtured when others had given up and felt frustration. She went above and beyond, the way she always does, and cared for more than just the tasks at hand, she cared for the whole family, and in that way brought true healing and a final breakthrough for the patient. Finally, this family was given permission to take care of themselves and to seek the help they needed on more than simply a medical level. Cheryl does that for all the staff and I for one am grateful to have her as a mentor, a colleague, and true friend.