Trina Bernad
February 2025
Trina
Bernad
,
BSN, RN
Primary Care Clinics
Cassia Regional Hospital
Burley
,
ID
United States
This special, heartfelt story is just one example of the truly life-changing work Trina engages in every single day.
There are many, many stories of the significant impact Trina has had on countless patients. One specific one was shared with me yesterday as I was completing an AWV. With tears in her eyes, this sweet, diminutive elderly lady asked hopefully, “Is Trina here today? I just wanted to thank her and show her how well I am doing.” Trina was unfortunately meeting with another patient during this time, and my sweet lady had to leave for another appointment, but she requested that I pass on her gratitude. This darling little woman with shining eyes explained to me the impact Trina had on her life. She related to me that Trina was an “angel that truly saved her life”.
This sweetheart explained to me that she has suffered from severe anxiety and depression her whole life. She told me that she has been “on and off” medications for many years, and she has often experienced side effects. She told me that she started to “feel pretty badly” so she took herself off all of her medications and her emotional and mental health was “scary bad”. She said that she had given up on the medical community because she felt her previous (non-Intermountain) providers did not listen and minimized her complaints of medication side effects. During this time, her husband of 50 years was also diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. This dear patient explained that she was significantly overwhelmed and was “crying and shaking and not sleeping or eating.” She stated that she knew she needed help but had no idea what to do or where to go. She states that her own children were no help, and they were just concerned about their dad.
This lady related that one day, she left her home in a virtual panic and had no idea where she was even going. She said she drove to the hospital and just blindly walked in. She said she was literally just stumbling around and crying, and every door she came to was locked, and the lights were off (it was late Friday afternoon, and the outpatient clinics close at noon). She did not even know where the ED was located and decided she might go there when “a literal angel named Trina walked down the hall.” This dear soul told me that Trina was carrying her lunch but immediately set it down and literally ran to help this patient in distress. My patient told me that she was crying so hard that she couldn’t see, so she slumped down and was sitting on the floor in the hallway. She said that Trina immediately sat on the floor next to her and asked what was going on and how she could help. She related that she felt “a huge burden slip off my shoulders as Trina talked to me and showed how much she genuinely cared”.
Trina was able to offer resources and even contacted a provider after hours to discuss establishing care on Monday. She was able to arrange a crisis counseling appointment with a counselor that same day, and called and followed up with her on her day off (Saturday). Trina attended the new PCP appointment with the patient and was able to help facilitate ongoing counseling, referral to psychiatry, and help with locating resources to assist with caregiver burden. She maintained consistent contact with in-person visits and phone calls to help arrange transportation, manage her schedule, and assist with resources. Trina was most importantly a true friend and good listener.
This patient reports, “Trina was absolutely my lifeline in those difficult few weeks.” She states that she “was a pain and called Trina frequently,” but Trina always responded kindly and made her feel important. This sweet patient was thrilled to report that she is doing “so much better,” and her husband has nearly completed his cancer treatment as well! I have had the wonderful privilege of working with Trina for many years and have often been inspired by her dedication and “above and beyond” treatment of patients and co-workers alike. This special, heartfelt story is just one example of the truly life-changing work Trina engages in every single day.
This sweetheart explained to me that she has suffered from severe anxiety and depression her whole life. She told me that she has been “on and off” medications for many years, and she has often experienced side effects. She told me that she started to “feel pretty badly” so she took herself off all of her medications and her emotional and mental health was “scary bad”. She said that she had given up on the medical community because she felt her previous (non-Intermountain) providers did not listen and minimized her complaints of medication side effects. During this time, her husband of 50 years was also diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. This dear patient explained that she was significantly overwhelmed and was “crying and shaking and not sleeping or eating.” She stated that she knew she needed help but had no idea what to do or where to go. She states that her own children were no help, and they were just concerned about their dad.
This lady related that one day, she left her home in a virtual panic and had no idea where she was even going. She said she drove to the hospital and just blindly walked in. She said she was literally just stumbling around and crying, and every door she came to was locked, and the lights were off (it was late Friday afternoon, and the outpatient clinics close at noon). She did not even know where the ED was located and decided she might go there when “a literal angel named Trina walked down the hall.” This dear soul told me that Trina was carrying her lunch but immediately set it down and literally ran to help this patient in distress. My patient told me that she was crying so hard that she couldn’t see, so she slumped down and was sitting on the floor in the hallway. She said that Trina immediately sat on the floor next to her and asked what was going on and how she could help. She related that she felt “a huge burden slip off my shoulders as Trina talked to me and showed how much she genuinely cared”.
Trina was able to offer resources and even contacted a provider after hours to discuss establishing care on Monday. She was able to arrange a crisis counseling appointment with a counselor that same day, and called and followed up with her on her day off (Saturday). Trina attended the new PCP appointment with the patient and was able to help facilitate ongoing counseling, referral to psychiatry, and help with locating resources to assist with caregiver burden. She maintained consistent contact with in-person visits and phone calls to help arrange transportation, manage her schedule, and assist with resources. Trina was most importantly a true friend and good listener.
This patient reports, “Trina was absolutely my lifeline in those difficult few weeks.” She states that she “was a pain and called Trina frequently,” but Trina always responded kindly and made her feel important. This sweet patient was thrilled to report that she is doing “so much better,” and her husband has nearly completed his cancer treatment as well! I have had the wonderful privilege of working with Trina for many years and have often been inspired by her dedication and “above and beyond” treatment of patients and co-workers alike. This special, heartfelt story is just one example of the truly life-changing work Trina engages in every single day.