Patti Rackstein
August 2023
Patti
Rackstein
,
RN
BayCare Health System
Clearwater
,
FL
United States

 

 

 

Patti’s passion for Advanced Care Planning has been a hallmark of her work, both with team members and with those in the community, as well as patient advocacy.
Patti is a lifelong champion of ethical awareness and ethical decision-making.  Her early interest in ethics was inspired during a Magnet site visit and a budding relationship with the appraisers. At the time she had a lingering desire to earn a Master’s degree, however a MSN was not a focal point for her. Her passion led her to the pursuit of a Master’s in Ethics from the University of South Florida. 

Patti Rackstein has been an ethics champion at BayCare for over 20 years. She served on the Morton Plant Mease Ethics Committee for 15 years and is currently a member of the BayCare Ethics Council as a nursing representative. She acts as an ethical resource for not only her nursing peers but also for our medical staff. Patti currently participates in ethics consultations at Morton Plant Mease hospitals and routinely contributes, as well as leads educational sessions to ethics consults at all BayCare hospitals. Her experiences with end-of-life concerns led her to become a major advocate of advanced care planning for our patients, team members, and community members. Patti’s passion for Advanced Care Planning has been a hallmark of her work, both with team members and with those in the community, as well as patient advocacy.  Every patient has the right for their voice to be heard, especially at the end of life or when they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves. Passion for the completion of advanced directives before an inpatient health crisis ensures that a patient’s wishes are known and adhered to by the care team. Patti championed the initiative for a new format of Advance Directive (Koda), which will be implemented in 2023.  This new format holds a promise to provide patients with the ability to complete advance directives with their primary physicians by proactively articulating their wishes if they are not able to make medical decisions for themselves. Patti has consistently embodied our BayCare values of respect and dignity by being an advocate and supporting our clinical team to navigate complex situations to assure quality care for patients.   The impact of Patti’s participation on the Ethics Council cannot be understated.   The Standard of Excellence for Ethics would not be the rich document it has become without her insight. 

She not only upholds ethical norms and values but expects the same from others.  Patti serves as a leader and liaison on the Pastoral Education Professional Advisory Group, and as such, she is responsible for hearing complaints or concerns that students have and ensures a fair, equitable process for resolution.  She was chosen for this role, in part, because she is so highly respected by these professionals. Patti is a woman of compassion and empathy. She advocates for programs enhancing team member support and wellbeing. She is transparent and opens herself to others in order to impact this cause. She advocates for “doing the right thing” and prioritizes informed consent and shared decision making.  She also consistently demonstrates high ethical standards in all areas of her practice.  As a nurse educator, Patti instills these standards into all those she works with, ensuring that BayCare programs reflect these standards.

Not only is Patti an amazing advocate and nurse but she is a kind, loving friend to many. Patti has impacted every person she has met and will continue to do so.