Tara Nathan, BSN, RN, CMSRN

I would like to recognize Tara for her outstanding advocacy and commitment to patient-centered care. Tara demonstrated exceptional critical thinking, professionalism, and courage in navigating a complex situation involving a family request for a device that was not standard for her unit and posed potential safety risks.

Rather than simply accommodating the request, Tara appropriately utilized the chain of command to ensure the patient's care remained safe, evidence-based, and aligned with best practice. She thoughtfully assessed the situation, identified potential concerns related to the patient's condition-including the presence of a fistula, Foley, skin breakdown, and risk for further harm-and escalated these concerns appropriately.

Tara also engaged wound care early to seek expert input and ensure all decisions were made with the patient's safety and comfort in mind.

In addition, Tara demonstrated strong communication skills and professionalism in working collaboratively with the care team, physicians, and leadership while maintaining focus on addressing both the patient's needs and the family's concerns. Her approach helped guide the team toward a coordinated plan of care and ultimately contributed to a care conference to address trust and communication challenges with the family.

Tara's actions reflect the highest standards of nursing practice. She consistently acts as a patient advocate, prioritizes safety, and demonstrates the confidence to speak up even in challenging situations. Her ability to balance compassion with clinical judgment is a true example of nursing excellence.

Thank you, Tara, for going above and beyond to ensure safe, thoughtful, and patient-centered care.