Great 100 Nurse for 2025: Natalie Palau, MSN, RN
Full name with credentials: Natalie Palau, MSN, RN
Dept. where you work: 4P/EMU (Neurosciences & Epilepsy Monitoring Unit)
Full title: Clinical Nurse Leader
Years at Cook Children’s: 11 years
What does this honor mean to you? It is a huge honor to receive a nomination for, and be chosen as, a Great 100 nurse. I definitely think this opportunity is the result of the countless other “great” nurses across CCMC who have mentored, supported, and grown me throughout my career. It is humbling to know that my work was recognized enough to even be nominated, and that the time and energy poured into that work has impacted others.
What do you love most about working at Cook Children’s? My favorite part about working at Cook Children’s is the supportive team and culture. The teamwork, vision, and compassion of all the nurses and staff that I get to work with every day are bar none. They make coming to work not only fun but inspiring as well. On an organizational level, I am particularly lucky because I have a position that is primarily meant to be a change agent. It is so empowering to work for an organization that not only supports but encourages nursing at all levels to be actively engaged in projects that can improve patient outcomes.
What value means the most to you and why? (Collaboration, Safety, Kindness, Respect, Generosity and Imagination): The value that resonates the most with me in my day-to-day role is imagination. I believe that empowering nurses to use their imagination to generate innovative solutions to the problems they see every day helps create a better work environment and better outcomes for our patients. Being a nurse requires creative problem solving no matter what area you work in, and being able to see unique points of view is imperative in making sure that the needs of our diverse staff, patients, and caregivers are also met, something I try to remember in my role.
A highlight from Natalie's nomination letter:
How has this individual exemplified compassionate caregiving?
This nurse’s focus on inclusivity and innovation exemplifies their compassionate approach to caregiving. She led the development of a language communication board designed to improve interactions with Spanish-speaking families.
To ensure cultural and linguistic accuracy, she employed a rigorous content validation process using Lawshe’s content validity index, involving both frontline nurses and Spanish-speaking families. By partnering with a frontline nurse, she fostered collaboration and mentorship, empowering their colleague to engage deeply in the project and its outcomes. Their dedication to patient and family care extends well beyond technical competence. She prioritized creating tools and processes that ensure families feel respected, understood, and supported during their health care experiences.
This nurse’s interdisciplinary approach to care reflects their commitment to delivering holistic, family-centered care for children with complex medical needs. By fostering a culture of compassion within the healthcare setting, she promotes inclusivity, understanding, and trust, enhancing both patient and family satisfaction.