Elana Estrada
July 2024
Elana
Estrada
,
RN, CA/CP SANE, SANE-A, SANE-P
Driscoll Children's Hospital Child Abuse Resource and Evaluation (CARE) Team
Academy of Forensic Nursing (AFN)
Corpus Christi
,
TX
United States
Through Elana's vision and strategic planning, the CARE Team is proud to share our Forensic Nursing Mentorship program, which allows fellow forensic nurses from across the nation to come to our hospital for a week and actively participate in SANE exams, child physical abuse exams, lessons in forensic photography, lessons in colposcope imaging, and court testimony. Elana has mentored hundreds of forensic nurses from across the country, many of whom continue to email her after they leave for advice and encouragement.
It is with immense pride that I write to you regarding an exemplary Forensic Nurse, Elana Estrada, whom Driscoll Children's Hospital has been blessed to have serving in our Emergency, Child Abuse Resource and Evaluation (CARE), and Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) over the last 31 years. As a nationally certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner for adult, adolescent, and pediatric patients, Elana has been a pathfinder, indeed, in our hospital's forensic nursing programming, the mentorships of other nurses nationwide, and for the education and collaborative efforts she has extended, not only to other hospital disciplines, but also to our hospital's community partners (Law enforcement, Child Protective Services, Child Advocacy Centers, local women's and children's shelters, and Emergency Medical Services). Elana has served as a specialized resource for our hospital and is always willing to assist other team members in navigating the intersection of healthcare and the legal system. She is always willing to pick up an extra shift, assist another victim, build a new program or educational lecture, or mentor another student, all with a smile on her face, a trauma-informed approach in her heart, and with empathy and compassion that is unmatched. She never fails to provide our hospital with the essential information, tools, and references tailored to the unique needs of forensic patients and forensic nursing practice. She has also helped to write the hospital policy and procedure that shape our hospital's forensic work and the evidence-based approaches to care for these specialized patients. Elana has decided to retire this year after assisting Driscoll in building another forensic child abuse and sexual assault response team in the first free-standing children's hospital in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. She initially planned to retire at the end of 2023, but through another selfless act, she extended her retirement to assist with our new hospital opening. It is without hesitation that I write this nomination for Elana Estrada, as she has demonstrated every DAISY Award criterion and more over her last 31 years of practice as a forensic nurse with Driscoll Children's Hospital.
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It is with extraordinary pride that the Driscoll Children's Hospital Child Abuse Resource and Evaluation (CARE) Team writes this letter of nomination for our esteemed colleague, Elana Estrada, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, for consideration for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award in Forensic Nursing. Elana has been a pathfinder for Forensic Nursing at our hospital over the last 31 years and has been a valuable resource for program development, education, mentorship, policy development, and the promotion of the Forensic Nursing discipline in the community. She approaches each of her tasks with unmatched empathy and compassion and with the ultimate vision of creating programs and building professionals that respond to trauma and violence with care. Elana serves as a mentor for the Midwest Child Advocacy Center, which encourages continuing education of forensic nurses through practice immersion. Through Elana's vision and strategic planning, the CARE Team is proud to share our Forensic Nursing Mentorship program, which allows fellow forensic nurses from across the nation to come to our hospital for a week and actively participate in SANE exams, child physical abuse exams, lessons in forensic photography, lessons in colposcope imaging, and court testimony. Elana has mentored hundreds of forensic nurses from across the country, many of whom continue to email her after they leave for advice and encouragement. She continues to assist forensic nurses across the county with program development and educational resources. With a desire for collaboration and to assist others in navigating the intersection between healthcare and the legal system, Elana promotes the image and visibility of forensic nursing in the community through multiple agreements with the team's community partners (Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Services, Child Protective Services, Child Advocacy Centers, and multiple Women's/Children's shelters). Our team members conduct regular education in these places to assist our community partners in understanding our services and how to forensically preserve evidence and respond in a trauma-informed manner when victims of violence are identified in the community. Because of Elana's vision, we also provide lectures on forensic evidence collection, human trafficking, child abuse, and trauma-informed care to all newly hired RNs and medical residents at the hospital. The above examples display Elana's commitment and dedication to forensic nursing and her leadership qualities of vision and strategy. She has mentored many and has been instrumental in creating programs and educating professionals who respond to trauma and violence with care.
In December 2023, Elana planned to retire, but when she learned Driscoll Children's Hospital was opening another hospital in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, she proved her dedication to program development by delaying her retirement until August 2024. She has recently been traveling endlessly between Driscoll's two hospitals, supporting the new forensic nurses, social workers, and medical providers who will practice on the Rio Grande Valley's CARE Team. We appreciate your consideration of Elana Estrada, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award in Forensic Nursing. Over the last 31 years, Elana has been a specialized resource who assists forensic nurses and other community members in understanding the forensic nursing discipline, the intersection between healthcare and legal issues, and the importance of victim-centered, trauma-informed care. With passion, Elana has taught hundreds of professionals the essential information, tools, and references needed to care for victims of violence. It is without hesitation that our team nominates Elana for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award in forensic nursing. Though we wish her well in her retirement, our team is surely going to miss this kind, compassionate, visionary, strategic, empathetic, and passionate leader.
***
It is with extraordinary pride that the Driscoll Children's Hospital Child Abuse Resource and Evaluation (CARE) Team writes this letter of nomination for our esteemed colleague, Elana Estrada, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, for consideration for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award in Forensic Nursing. Elana has been a pathfinder for Forensic Nursing at our hospital over the last 31 years and has been a valuable resource for program development, education, mentorship, policy development, and the promotion of the Forensic Nursing discipline in the community. She approaches each of her tasks with unmatched empathy and compassion and with the ultimate vision of creating programs and building professionals that respond to trauma and violence with care. Elana serves as a mentor for the Midwest Child Advocacy Center, which encourages continuing education of forensic nurses through practice immersion. Through Elana's vision and strategic planning, the CARE Team is proud to share our Forensic Nursing Mentorship program, which allows fellow forensic nurses from across the nation to come to our hospital for a week and actively participate in SANE exams, child physical abuse exams, lessons in forensic photography, lessons in colposcope imaging, and court testimony. Elana has mentored hundreds of forensic nurses from across the country, many of whom continue to email her after they leave for advice and encouragement. She continues to assist forensic nurses across the county with program development and educational resources. With a desire for collaboration and to assist others in navigating the intersection between healthcare and the legal system, Elana promotes the image and visibility of forensic nursing in the community through multiple agreements with the team's community partners (Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Services, Child Protective Services, Child Advocacy Centers, and multiple Women's/Children's shelters). Our team members conduct regular education in these places to assist our community partners in understanding our services and how to forensically preserve evidence and respond in a trauma-informed manner when victims of violence are identified in the community. Because of Elana's vision, we also provide lectures on forensic evidence collection, human trafficking, child abuse, and trauma-informed care to all newly hired RNs and medical residents at the hospital. The above examples display Elana's commitment and dedication to forensic nursing and her leadership qualities of vision and strategy. She has mentored many and has been instrumental in creating programs and educating professionals who respond to trauma and violence with care.
In December 2023, Elana planned to retire, but when she learned Driscoll Children's Hospital was opening another hospital in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, she proved her dedication to program development by delaying her retirement until August 2024. She has recently been traveling endlessly between Driscoll's two hospitals, supporting the new forensic nurses, social workers, and medical providers who will practice on the Rio Grande Valley's CARE Team. We appreciate your consideration of Elana Estrada, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award in Forensic Nursing. Over the last 31 years, Elana has been a specialized resource who assists forensic nurses and other community members in understanding the forensic nursing discipline, the intersection between healthcare and legal issues, and the importance of victim-centered, trauma-informed care. With passion, Elana has taught hundreds of professionals the essential information, tools, and references needed to care for victims of violence. It is without hesitation that our team nominates Elana for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award in forensic nursing. Though we wish her well in her retirement, our team is surely going to miss this kind, compassionate, visionary, strategic, empathetic, and passionate leader.