Photo information:
Sara Boone, RN, Clinical Educator, HEM-ONC D6
Congratulations from Mary Stowe RN MS NEA-BC, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer



Sara started her career at Children’s as a new graduate in the internship program and has made a rapid progression to her current role as a Clinical Educator. Her strength at clinical bedside nursing has enhanced her ability as a staff educator. She has a strong sense of detail and focus on policy and procedure while always thinking of the patient’s best interest. I recall one event where she was helping a peer work through changing the PCA pain medication and tubing of a patient who was also receiving TPN. With the goal to minimize the patient’s time without pain meds, this nurse sat and logically walked through the process of configuring the complicated tubing set up without inadvertently bolusing the patient with the new narcotic or TPN. She took the time to explain what she was doing to the parents and why she was so cautious in her actions as well as share this knowledge with her peer. During her time as a bedside nurse she has successfully oriented many new graduate nurses to become strong, independent nurses. She is committed to the complexity of the hem/onc population and her strong knowledge base and commitment makes her an exceptional educator at the bedside as well as departmentally.

Sara’s current focus on our unit is the New Graduate Internship program. This program has been in existence for greater than 10 years, but she made it her own by making adjustments based on feedback and her own experience in the program and at the bedside. She added a hem/onc skill check off as part of their exit exam, more focus on central line care ,and she also identified a need for more focused computer training with our chemotherapy ordering system. In her two years running the internship, she has expanded her ability to interview and make sound hiring decisions with management, as well as meeting the challenges of those who experience difficulties. She is mature in her communication and addresses issues and concerns with new staff without hesitation. Not all new hires turn out as expected and one in particular challenged this nurse early on in her educator career. She met with both the preceptor and new grad on several occasions, slowed the process down to give her time, and personally worked with her to see what her learning barriers were and if she could overcome them. She was committed to this nurse’s success.

Recently she took over 100% of unit education while her co-worker was out on FMLA. She managed the entire CCBD staff’s educational needs which include both Dallas and Legacy campuses. She approached all new responsibilities with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. She is an independent worker and self initiator and sees all new projects as a challenge that she will overcome. I have never seen her get discouraged or overwhelmed. She has an attitude of “bring it on”.

As an educator for the nursing department, Sara has taken on many projects that most would shy away from. She worked on an infection control work group as the key clinician. Their goal was to provide hospital wide training to multiple disciplines on isolation precautions. This project proved to be very challenging for many reasons, however, she overcame them and maintained a professional attitude and the final product was outstanding.

Sara has far exceeded my expectations of her as a nursing educator as well as a team member. I am lucky and blessed to have this nurse as a member of my leadership team. She plays a crucial role in the success of our staff and unit. Every day she exemplifies what I would classify as an excellent nurse and is deserving of this Award.