Fatma Nasser

Dominion Hospital Nurse Draws Inspiration from Childhood Trauma 

Many people understand the care and compassion nurses provide everyday to their patients, but what really motivates someone to devote their lives to caring for people who are ill? There is one very special nurse at Dominion Hospital who, from a very young age, knew she wanted to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Her name is Fatma Nasser, RN.

For the first eight years of her life, Fatma lived in a war zone area where she witnessed people experiencing emotional and psychological trauma. While growing up, she realized that nurses not only provided care, but also worked closely with patients, families and the healthcare team to provide compassionate care and support during some of the most vulnerable times in their lives.

At the age of 16, Fatma started working as a nursing assistant at children’s hospital in Zurich, Switzerland where she learned about the wide range of nursing specialties and opportunities for continuous learning and career growth.

For the past eight years, Fatma has worked at Dominion Hospital as a children’s behavioral health nurse. “I am passionate about helping young patients and their families navigate the complexities of mental health challenges,” said Fatma. “It is incredibly rewarding to work with children who are struggling to cope with anxiety, depression, trauma or other emotional struggles.”

According to one of her nurse colleagues, Fatma embodies the spirit of nursing. “She cares so deeply for her patients, her peers and the entire hospital. Fatma is gracious and kind, and she never loses her joy in all that she does. She inspires the entire care team around her.”

Although Fatma finds working with children and adolescents with behavioral health issues to be emotionally draining at times, she finds it very rewarding to witness the small victories patients make while they are at the hospital. “Seeing our patients overcome their fears, develop trust and form meaningful connections with us is a constant reminder of the profound impact that our healthcare team has on the children and adolescents on our unit,” said Fatma.

Fatma said the nurses and other staff that she works with at Dominion are truly exceptional! “They are always willing to lend a helping hand, offer words of encouragement and provide emotional support to both our patients and our medical team. Their dedication and teamwork make me come to work with a joy, and I feel grateful to be part of such a wonderful team at Dominion Hospital."