Inspiring and caring with grace and integrity; these are qualities that Jaime El-Talabani’s coworkers use to describe her and the work she does at Porter Regional Hospital. Recently named Associate of the Year, El-Talabani has devoted her career to being House Supervisor, helping and healing others.
While patients are her top priority, El-Talabani has been committed to fostering a supportive environment for her coworkers as well. Her exemplary work on hospital programs like the patient through-put committee and the patient sitter program are just part of the reason for this recognition. Armed with excellent decision-making and communication skills, El-Talabani is known throughout the hospital for her skills in conflict management and service recovery. Her high level of diplomacy and professionalism has developed trust and security within her team and has also granted her nominations for the Nursing Leadership Award and the Porter Cares recognition program.
When asked about why she enjoys the work she does, El-Talabani replied that she loves to be on her toes.
“I really, really like that it’s different everyday,” said El-Talabani. “I like that, as Nurse Supervisor, you never ever know what you’re going to deal with. It is an opportunity to enter into people’s lives at these crucial moments, and it’s such a privilege.”
These crucial moments result in both happy and unhappy endings, but El-Talabani explained that her team is what makes the difficult days a little bit easier.
“I am incredibly lucky to work with the people I work with,” El-Talabani said with deep appreciation for her team. “They do incredible things for other people, and it sounds so cheesy, but it feels like every single day I get to watch these acts of kindness, and it’s amazing.”
The work of a nurse is difficult. Many times a day, they face both success and defeat. Because of this difficult dynamic, El-Talabani explained that strong relationships among hospital staff are essential.
“Hospital associates can’t engage emotionally day after day and remain empathetic without a strong support system,” El-Talabani said.
In El-Talabani’s life, this support system extends well beyond the confines of the hospital. Married to her husband and with two young boys whom she home-schools, El-Talabani is ever-grateful for the love and support that her family provides.
“My husband and my parents and my siblings and the babysitters - they are the village that helps me commit 100% to Porter when I’m at Porter, and when I’m at home, I feel like the hospital is in 100% good hands,” said El-Talabani.
This security makes El-Talabani’s work at Porter Regional Hospital possible. Placing kindness as a top priority ensures that even families facing hard times will know that the hospital and its staff were there for them.
Looking ahead, El-Talabani is most concerned with ensuring that each floor of the hospital is well-connected and that patients recognize the Nurse Supervisors as resources for them as well as the nursing staff.
This proactive attitude and desire to improve the relationships and communication habits of her team is what makes El-Talabani an effective nurse and a valuable Associate of the Year. The recognition, however, came as a complete surprise.
“I was totally floored! I can't believe it,” El-Talabani said. “I am so honored. I work with amazing people and to be chosen from all of the people who work here - it just feels like such an honor.”
El-Talabani is first to recognize that her success is the success of her team as a whole. The love and appreciation she has for her hospital and her coworkers is what keeps her going day in and day out.
“I just want to be really 110% clear that the people I work with are the reason that this work has become so rewarding to me,” El-Talabani explained. “I am honored that I got this award. I look at the people I work with and can't pick out why it was me. It is impossible to single one person out because it is such a strong knit community that is there for each other.”
To learn more about Porter Regional Hospital, visit https://www.porterhealth.com/.
