In lots of ways, it is all the little things that nurses do every day to make their patients feel special. I see that in Teresa Moses. Teresa has recently transferred to the Level 3 unit at her request because she wanted to be with the most vulnerable kids. The Level 3 adolescents are certainly a challenge. Their needs are enormous but their interpersonal skills and behaviors can push people away. Many have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. Teresa cares tremendously for all of them. She is not put off by their behaviors and searches for the positive. She considers everything about them and makes sure that their needs are taken care of - physical, emotional, safety, and personal growth. Teresa is there day to day and works on holidays too. It is those little things and the quiet times that make a difference. Most of the adolescents need an adult role model and not a friend. The adults in their lives have not always been there for them. Inconsistency and the inability to put their kids' needs first is a common trait shared by the parents or guardians of the Level 3 adolescents. Working to show that there are adults who can be trusted is a challenge. Teresa keeps working every day and slowly the kids see that she is different. She cares. She is fair. The kids trust her and know that she is on their side.
Teresa has had her share of life's bumps. Her husband and father of her children died young, and perhaps most significant is the death of her daughter just shy of her 20th birthday. Teresa's daughter was a "ball of fire" and full of life, she worked here at the Valley campus as an MHT on the latency unit. She planned to be a social worker that worked with children and had been accepted into the Department of Social Work at UTC. However, that was not to be as she was in an auto accident and killed on her way to work. The staff at Valley was devastated and grieved the loss of their friend and coworker. The children were informed of the accident and we worked through it together. It was tough for all and I can only imagine what it was like for Teresa. But, like the rock that Teresa is, there she was at the visitation and services for her daughter consoling and providing support to everyone.
Months after her daughter's death, Teresa asked to work some shifts with the kids. At first, I think she was trying it out to see if she could handle being in the same place and working with the same kids that her daughter had such a passion for. As they say "that was that" and she developed her own passion for the work. You can ask any staff and they will beam when they talk to you about Teresa and what a difference she makes on the level 3 unit. The kids are tough but Teresa has a soft spot for all of them and they benefit enormously from having her take care of them. I know for sure that the kids and all of us are better for having Teresa among us.