June 2026
Selin
Hales
,
RN
Primary Children's Hospital Lehi Miller Campus
Lehi
,
UT
United States
What could have remained a highly anxious and overwhelming experience became more manageable because Selin created a sense of safety and trust.
Selin Hales truly demonstrates clinical excellence, empathy, and teamwork in her everyday practice. Recently, we cared for a baby whose sibling had previously passed away in the NICU. The mother was experiencing significant anxiety and emotional triggers related to her loss. The environment made it even more challenging — there were frequent monitor alarms, the normal fast pace and unpredictability of the unit, and the added stress of room sharing with another patient.
Throughout the shift, Selin remained calm, steady, and fully present. She intentionally slowed down when speaking with the mom, pulled up a chair, and gave her the space to express her fears and concerns. She actively listened without interrupting and validated the mom’s grief and anxiety instead of minimizing it. She explained alarms and the plan of care clearly and gently, helping reduce uncertainty. At the same time, she maintained safe, high-quality care for her patient, staying attentive to both clinical details and emotional needs. She also communicated with the team to ensure everyone was aware of the mom’s triggers so we could approach the situation with consistency and sensitivity. In that moment, Selin demonstrated clinical excellence through safe and thoughtful care, empathy through deep compassion and presence, and teamwork by involving and guiding the team to better support the family.
Selin’s actions had a powerful and immediate impact on both the mother and the care environment. As the shift went on, you could visibly see the mom begin to relax. Her tone softened, she asked questions more openly, and she appeared more reassured knowing she was being heard and understood. What could have remained a highly anxious and overwhelming experience became more manageable because Selin created a sense of safety and trust. Her calm presence also positively influenced the rest of the team. By modeling patience and empathy, she reminded all of us how important it is to care for the emotional well-being of families just as much as the physical needs of our patients. The room felt less chaotic and more grounded because of the way she handled the situation. Selin’s ability to bring compassion into a moment filled with grief and fear made a lasting difference. She not only cared for her patient — she cared for a mother navigating profound loss. That kind of impact extends far beyond one shift and is exactly what our values represent.
Throughout the shift, Selin remained calm, steady, and fully present. She intentionally slowed down when speaking with the mom, pulled up a chair, and gave her the space to express her fears and concerns. She actively listened without interrupting and validated the mom’s grief and anxiety instead of minimizing it. She explained alarms and the plan of care clearly and gently, helping reduce uncertainty. At the same time, she maintained safe, high-quality care for her patient, staying attentive to both clinical details and emotional needs. She also communicated with the team to ensure everyone was aware of the mom’s triggers so we could approach the situation with consistency and sensitivity. In that moment, Selin demonstrated clinical excellence through safe and thoughtful care, empathy through deep compassion and presence, and teamwork by involving and guiding the team to better support the family.
Selin’s actions had a powerful and immediate impact on both the mother and the care environment. As the shift went on, you could visibly see the mom begin to relax. Her tone softened, she asked questions more openly, and she appeared more reassured knowing she was being heard and understood. What could have remained a highly anxious and overwhelming experience became more manageable because Selin created a sense of safety and trust. Her calm presence also positively influenced the rest of the team. By modeling patience and empathy, she reminded all of us how important it is to care for the emotional well-being of families just as much as the physical needs of our patients. The room felt less chaotic and more grounded because of the way she handled the situation. Selin’s ability to bring compassion into a moment filled with grief and fear made a lasting difference. She not only cared for her patient — she cared for a mother navigating profound loss. That kind of impact extends far beyond one shift and is exactly what our values represent.