Tabatha Palmer
St. Paul's Hospital nurses Brad Chase and Tabatha Palmer
Celebrating Our Profession
What is your unit or specialty, and where do you work?
General surgery, St. Paul's Hospital
How long have you been nursing?
32 years
Why did you become a nurse and when did you know that nursing was for you?
Growing up, my mother was a nurses' aide. She would often come home and tell me about her patients and the other nurses she worked with. It moved me to the point where I wanted to be a nurse to make a difference too.
I knew nursing was for me when I realized:
- I had a strong stomach for blood and guts, there wasn't too much that fazed me!
- I am a night owl by nature, perfect for night shifts!
- Most importantly, I realized the difference I could make in my patients lives!
How would you describe the work you do in one word?
Rewarding!
How does COVID-19 make you feel?
Vulnerable – like I could catch it and die!
Name one thing on your nursing bucket list.
To teach the next generation.
What do you appreciate most about your fellow nurses?
The hard physical, emotional, and stressful situations we face can be very challenging. At the end of a shift, we are all still standing, and still able to smile and appreciate each other. I appreciate their resilience and willingness to come back tomorrow and do it all over again!
Celebrating Each Other
Why do you want to acknowledge Brad Chase?
I've known Brad since 1993. Never have I ever seen him display nothing less than complete professionalism, compassion and selflessness towards his patients or colleagues. He is one of a kind!
His sense of humor is so contagious. My nickname for him is "Brad-wiser" like Budweiser because he is so smart and wise, and he holds it together when the word is falling apart.
In times of real craziness, he's your go to – he just lends a hand. And when we have really difficult patients, whatever the reason, he shows absolute professionalism. No matter how challenging the patient is, he just goes in there, even if they're mean and hurtful or hateful. He just holds it together.
He is a real example to the younger nurses just starting out. In fact, he's an example to all of us – he's very non-judgmental to his patients. He is fabulous to work with and I know he's got my back. •