Staff Spotlight, Tamara Peters

Tell us about yourself!

Hi! My name is Tamara Peters (she/her), BSN, RN, and I am the Lead RN at The Emily Program’s Seattle Residential site. I have worked with the Seattle Residential team as a nurse for over four years, and I hope to remain here for many years to come.

Describe the career path that led you to The Emily Program.

I have been a nurse for ten years. I started my nursing career as an LPN in 2012 and then earned my ADN in 2014. During the pandemic, I returned to university and earned my BSN in 2021. I love being a nurse. It has allowed me to help others and meet many wonderful patients and clients over the years. I have worked in various specialty settings, including adolescent behavioral health, medical-surgical, oncology, and at present, eating disorder treatment. 

I enjoy being part of a close-knit multidisciplinary team at the Seattle Residential site, and I value the ability to provide a more holistic healing experience to clients. This setting also allows for more time with clients to provide support, build therapeutic rapport, and get to know clients outside of a diagnosis. Supporting clients in their treatment journey is the best part of my job. 

What motivates you to show up for work each day? 

Our clients and our nursing team motivate me to show up to work each day. Clients are working so hard on their recovery journey, and that dedication motivates me to show up and give the best version of myself. I’m also motivated by the team of nurses I work with. My team is passionate about working in eating disorder treatment and genuinely cares about each other and our clients. 

What have our clients taught you? 

Our clients have taught me the importance of practicing self-compassion. This practice has helped me to be more resilient, especially during these worldwide challenging times. 

If you could do another job just for a day, what would it be?  

Oh, I would have to go with my childhood dream job here. I would be a paleontologist on a dig site discovering fossils.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?  

When I’m not working, I like to spend my free time in a few different ways. I enjoy collecting records, going to see live music, playing pinball, spending time in nature, or hanging out at home watching a sci-fi movie with my husband, our two dogs, and our cat.