Lara is such an inspiration to me and an absolute joy to work with. I have had the opportunity to work with Lara for many years. We initially collaborated as QOWL representatives in our individual units (PICU/PIMCU) where despite our unit differences and challenges we were able to successfully plan multiple events (holiday parties, Tisket-a-Tasket Baskets Nurses Week Activities, Monthly festive themed food parties etc.) to help bridge gaps and improve teamwork amongst our sister units. We then had the opportunity to work together in Peds Peri anesthesia where I truly saw Lara shine with her patients and families.

Lara always goes above and beyond when providing care to her patients as well as their families. She is such a valuable resource to new staff and frequently takes mistakes or errors and turns them into "teaching moments" in a non-judgmental manner keeping her patients' safety and outcomes her top priority. I remember working with Lara on the unit in Peds Peri anesthesia the night that "the first COVID + patient" entered the ED. The house manager (T) phoned me as I was in charge and asked for Lara to respond to the ED as one of the only "special pathogens" trained nurses who were working that shift. During one of the most stressful times of our nursing careers where being a nurse became scary for ourselves our patients and our own families especially working within a large hospital system, Lara grabbed her bag of PPE and without hesitation went to the ED to assist a chaotic evolving situation.

Her knowledge and expertise were invaluable during such an unprecedented time. She brought feedback in real time to our hospital administration and leadership teams to improve the process of patient care for COVID + patients based on her experiences to improve safety for our staff and above all patient safety and outcomes. As a pediatric nurse, Lara was floated without complaint out of turn and truly out of her comfort zone and area of expertise as a Pediatric nurse to the SICU and ED to assist and care for countless COVID + patients in the many months that followed.

Lara recently got her Master’s Degree in Nursing Education and has chosen to stay at the bedside providing top-quality care to our patients and their families where she feels she is truly needed. Lara is such an asset not only to her unit but to this entire organization. She remains an active member of the Nursing Retention and Resiliency Committee where she continues to advocate for her fellow nurses because she loves being a nurse and takes pride in her workplace and the people who work here. She recently attended the Magnet Conference in Philadelphia as a team member of Penn State Health Organization and she could not wait to come back and share her experiences with everyone on the unit and immediately began to advocate for the next magnet resignation! I honestly cannot say enough good things about Lara. She is such a role model to new employees a supportive peer to her co-workers on the unit an advocate for her patients and families and just truly a fantastic Nurse. We are so lucky to have her and I would entrust the lives of myself and my own family members in her care.