Tarneem Al-Aboushi, RN, BSc

Back pain has a quiet way of changing your life. It affects how you sit, how you sleep, how you move, and eventually how you feel. When my doctor recommended cortisone injections, I knew they were necessary, but I was deeply anxious about going through the process.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that the experience would unfold over multiple appointments. I had disc issues in both my neck and my lower back, which meant I needed three injections divided into two separate procedures on different dates. The time between appointments gave space for the anxiety to return each time.

Before my first procedure, I received a call from Nurse Tarneem. She explained everything carefully, what I needed to do beforehand, how the procedure would be carried out, and what to expect afterward. Her tone was calm and unhurried. She wasn’t simply giving instructions, she was making sure I felt prepared.

Before ending the call, she asked if anything was worrying me. I admitted that I felt vulnerable, especially about maintaining my privacy during preparation. She responded sincerely, reassuring me that my comfort and dignity would be respected. It wasn’t a rehearsed answer. It felt personal and genuine.

On the day of the first procedure, she was there to receive me in the preparation room. She greeted me by name and walked me through each step before doing anything. Even though the department was active and busy, she gave me her full attention.

When it was time to prepare, particularly for the neck injection, which felt especially intimidating, she ensured the curtains were completely closed and that I had the time and space I needed.

Later, during the separate procedure for my lower back, she showed the same attentiveness. It was a different appointment but the same level of care. She waited until I told her I was ready before continuing. I never felt rushed. I never felt exposed.

She walked beside me to the Radiology room each time. It may seem like a small gesture, but it meant something. She did not lead me quickly down the hallway. She matched my pace. In those quiet steps, I felt supported.

Although she did not administer the injections herself, she prepared me for them mentally and emotionally. Before each procedure began, she explained what was happening and reminded me that we would move step by step. That consistency mattered.

Facing injections in two different areas of my spine on separate dates could have been overwhelming. Instead, her steady presence made it manageable. By the third injection, I still felt nervous, but I no longer felt alone.

What stayed with me most was not just her professionalism, but her awareness. She understood that medical procedures are not only physical experiences. They are emotional ones. She protected my privacy without being asked twice. She respected my vulnerability without making it feel dramatic. She treated me as a person first and a patient second.

Because of Nurse Tarneem, what could have been a series of stressful hospital visits became an experience defined by dignity, reassurance, and trust. And that is why I truly believe she deserves to win.