Zarifa serves as Primary Preceptor on West 6 and inspires new nurse recruits to practice compassion, sound clinical judgment, and inquiry to guide professional nursing care with evidenced based practice.
New nurses have said, Zarifa is as dedicated to her patients as she is to their success. They feel cared for by her mentorship, her expert knowledge directs new nurses and medical staff through complex clinical situations. Her nurse manager and leadership team have immense respect for her clinical practice and unwavering dedication to patients, families, and her professional family on West 6.
In 1980, Zarifa began her nursing career in Bosnia. She earned a bachelor's degree in nursing and worked in a Bosnian hospital until the early 1990's at which time she left the country in response to the escalating Bosnian conflict.
In 1994, then a Bosnian refugee, Zarifa began work as a certified oncology nurse at a medical center in Stuttgart, Germany until 1999 at which time she successfully sought immigration status in the United States and relocated to raise her family and continue her professional career in nursing.
2003 marked a turning point for Zarifa when she was accepted into the Highland Nurse Residency Program where she later graduated from Monroe Community College having earned a degree in nursing and was hired by Highland Hospital where she began work as a certified RN on West 6.
Highland wishes to thank Zarifa's family including her husband Zemir, and children, Nermin and Arma for caring and supporting Zarifa for all these years and enabling her to achieve career success that has spanned two continents and three hospital medical centers including Highland Hospital.