Melissa Salgado-Bellin has been a nurse since 2010 and now serves as Heartland Alliance Health’s clinical nurse supervisor. Salgado-Bellin believes that a nurse’s work is more than just medical, it’s relational. She takes great pride in her team’s ability to build trust and connection with the people we serve, all in the effort to create meaningful, trauma-informed healthcare solutions for our city’s most vulnerable populations.
How did you get into this work?
Growing up as a first-generation immigrant, my parents – who had migrated from the Philippines – instilled the importance of community and giving back to the community as a critical aspect of the culture. The idea of the role we play in helping the community has always been with me, and I give full credit to my family for modeling that – and I am thankful to continue in their footsteps.
My interest in nursing specifically came after my freshman year in college, when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. We had a family member who was a nurse and she was there for my mom every step of the way. I really appreciated the way she was able to help my mom and family with such expertise and compassion. That’s when I started to think about this field.
Over the years, I’ve spent quite a bit of time in hospitals. In one unit, I was serving people with ongoing mental health issues. I kept seeing that the same people were coming back over and over again which really concerned me. I decided that type of work was the path I wanted to take. Right after grad school, I found a job working for Heartland Alliance’s ACT Team as an outreach nurse working with individuals with severe mental illness.
Why is this work important to the community and those we serve?
I’m really proud to be a nurse. What’s unique about us is that we have opportunities to build relationships. You know, we see many of the same people over and over again, and at Heartland, we’re trauma informed and focused on harm-reduction. We get to meet people where they’re at and help people heal on their own terms.
I appreciate that we get to have the chance to learn people’s stories and then meet their needs on their terms. What we’re able to provide is the time to talk to participants, understand the holistic care they need, and collaborate with our team. These relationships matter. They help us find exactly how we can help people thrive.
Was there a moment where you knew you were in the right job?
It’s so hard to answer that question. You know, it’s not one moment. As a nurse, I never feel like I’m working. I feel lucky that I get to enjoy what I do every day.
Even right now, when things are so hard, it’s challenging but still so natural. We’re out testing homeless individuals for COVID-19 and it’s scary, but I feel honored to be on the front line. I almost don’t even like that “front-line” comment because this is just the work.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I’m here for one reason, the people we serve. That’s easy. We serve our participants for a long time. They all have such differing stories, lives, and are just so thankful and full of gratitude. They inspire me a lot. They keep me grounded.
I also really appreciate Heartland Alliance’s harm reduction and strengths-based philosophies. We all to help – but what does that truly mean? What the people want isn’t always what you think is best – and so learning that way of service, I really appreciate that.
How can others get involved in your work?
There’s a ton of really important stuff you can do right now. We’ve been so grateful to have people donate PPE and similar items, it helps us be safer and helps our participants be healthier. Right now, I think it’s just as important to have a better understanding of people experiencing homelessness or living with mental health issues. Donations are good, all of that really helps – but most importantly, we all need to better understand where people are coming from. That empathy will build into action, cohesion, and ultimately change.
