Tamara Wilhite
November 2022
Tamara
Wilhite
,
RN
Psychiatric Observation
Atrium Health Cabarrus
Concord
,
NC
United States
Tammy was the reason I could sleep some nights and she was the one who made him feel heard and valued as a person.
I am writing a note of appreciation for one of the caregivers to our son who was held in the ER area for two weeks while we waited for a bed to be available at Davidson Behavioral Health. As you know, this area of the hospital was not designed for patients who may be there longer than a day or so. I want to commend someone who made this situation as humane as possible by being kind and helpful and compassionate.
When as a mother your child is in a situation that you cannot control and that you are very concerned about, the staff who make the extra effort, not only with your child, but also with their parents, stand out. Tammy Wilhite was the first nurse I talked to that made me feel she truly cared about my son, and he referred to her over and over as the nicest person to him there. She did small things that meant so much. She knew he loved the shrimp po’boy sandwiches and she made sure he got an extra when they were on the menu. She talked calmly and kindly to him whether he was calm and kind to her or not. She listened to him. She could see that he was so much more than his behavior and altered mental state suggested. Please reread that last sentence. That meant the world to me and to him, and every single time I called, she took time to share compassion and concern, and updates.
She was the reason I could sleep some nights and she was the one who made him feel heard and valued as a person. She was as thrilled as I was when the news finally came that he would be moved. After two weeks with no privacy, no place where he could cry alone or talk privately, feel truly safe or have sleep undisturbed, where he could not even look out a window, I believe she was as grateful as I was that was finally, finally going to change. She is so much more than a nurse, she is one of the best nurses I have ever encountered.
I would love for Tammy to be recognized for her service. She is the face of Atrium that we all need to see and value and works in an area that must be one of the hardest, most unappreciated in the healthcare system. I doubt many patients or families return there to give thanks and appreciation.
When as a mother your child is in a situation that you cannot control and that you are very concerned about, the staff who make the extra effort, not only with your child, but also with their parents, stand out. Tammy Wilhite was the first nurse I talked to that made me feel she truly cared about my son, and he referred to her over and over as the nicest person to him there. She did small things that meant so much. She knew he loved the shrimp po’boy sandwiches and she made sure he got an extra when they were on the menu. She talked calmly and kindly to him whether he was calm and kind to her or not. She listened to him. She could see that he was so much more than his behavior and altered mental state suggested. Please reread that last sentence. That meant the world to me and to him, and every single time I called, she took time to share compassion and concern, and updates.
She was the reason I could sleep some nights and she was the one who made him feel heard and valued as a person. She was as thrilled as I was when the news finally came that he would be moved. After two weeks with no privacy, no place where he could cry alone or talk privately, feel truly safe or have sleep undisturbed, where he could not even look out a window, I believe she was as grateful as I was that was finally, finally going to change. She is so much more than a nurse, she is one of the best nurses I have ever encountered.
I would love for Tammy to be recognized for her service. She is the face of Atrium that we all need to see and value and works in an area that must be one of the hardest, most unappreciated in the healthcare system. I doubt many patients or families return there to give thanks and appreciation.