Great 100 Nurses for 2025: Meet Rebecca Brovina, BSN, RN, CPN

Name: Rebecca Brovina, BSN, RN, CPN

Department: Research Data Science and Analytics (RDSA) with the Exercise Respiratory Center in Prosper

Title: Research Nurse Coordinator

 Years at Cook Children's: 2.5 years

What does this honor mean to me? To me, this honor means that I have been able to make a difference in the lives of patients and coworkers. As caregivers, sometimes it can be difficult to keep going. We are highly empathetic people causing us to burn ourselves out and develop compassion fatigue. To be awarded this honor means to me that the tears I have cried, the days I have made myself sick over my patients, caught their viruses, sat in silence with a mom as she cried over her child, treated a patient as my own when they had no family left, cried with them when they were told they will never walk again, and then cheered for them when they defied science and walked anyway, have made a difference and have been noticed. To make a difference in just one patients life is all I’ve ever wanted, to be recognized on a level such as this is beyond what I ever dreamed. As I complete my Master’s in Health Sciences this May, I hope I can use it to advocate for our patients on an even larger scale.

What do I love most about working at Cook Children's? When I began working at Cook Children’s in the Prosper PICU I was astounded by the teamwork and collaboration. Every single person was willing to be flexible and jumped in to help each other without ever being asked. Many times, the bedside nurse had so much help during admissions they would have nothing they would need to do other than be with the patient. Going from a place where I did admissions and discharges solo leading to falling behind in patient care to an environment and culture of a unit and team that acts as all the patients are their patients regardless of the assignment was incredible. Moving into research, a totally new specialty I’ve had to learn, has been the same experience. I work with a team that is understanding of gaps in knowledge and not only willing to teach me but excited to teach me. I couldn’t have entered a better transition into research than I have with Dr. Andy Kreutzer and Dr. John Robertson. A culture that approaches learning with respect is a rare thing and I am grateful to have found that.

What value means the most to me? I have always been passionate about patient safety. When I began my career here at Cook Children’s I started in the Prosper PICU as a charge nurse before the medical center opened. As a charge nurse, and part of the first staff for the Prosper Medical Center, I was able to assist with developing standards of care and processes we would use. Safety was always number one on my list, from room set up, to where supplies were stocked, to how and when we transferred a patient, creating patient assignments, and always being in the room to help. Sometimes that meant difficult conversations and strict advocacy. Most importantly, it meant effective teamwork, constant communication, and reorganization of assignments to ensure all patients are cared for and not only do our patients feel safe, but so do the staff members caring for them. Moving into research, patient safety remains my top priority. Being a part of the world’s first Continuous Bronchoscopy during Exercise on a pediatric patient with the Exercise Respiratory Center I was able to develop the safety plan by communicating with the ER, PICU, pharmacist, and house supervisors to ensure we were prepared should the patient need critical care. If I were ever in the shoes of my patients, I would hope someone behind the scenes was advocating for my safety as much as we do.

A Highlight from Rebbeca's Nomination Letter:

What are this individual’s leadership qualities?

"My nominee has a gift that is so rare in all leadership be it corporate, medical, government or community. She carries the same tone of voice and value for every person she encounters. She talks to people above her title with the same respect and colleagueship that she does with people on her own level and below her station as well. She is gifted at challenging herself and organization to be the best version possible in a way that does not make anyone feel threatened or anxious about stretching to grow and be best practice health care workers.

Teaching is a great gift my nominee has. She is gifted at narrating care and helping a patient and family member understand why she is giving the care they are receiving. Likewise, she is very communicative with Nurses she is mentoring to teach and narrate in a way that creates safe space for learning and them asking questions.

My nominee is the definition of a lifelong learner and so she is always asking insightful questions and empowering fellow Nurses and Techs to find their voice to do that also. She is very detail driven and takes no shortcuts to ever do the job less thorough. She gives every patient and every duty every step required. She never seeks to do less.

Among interdisciplinary staff she is as valued as among her Nursing team. She teaches us what patients need are each day and what they are facing that day."