2024 Epilepsy Hero Award Nurse Winner

News and Announcements | February 4, 2025 | Natalie Palau

Each year during Epilepsy Awareness Month, the providers, nurses and staff at the
Jane and John Justin Institute for Mind Health acknowledge their colleagues' dedication, hard work and outstanding contributions by nominating them as an Epilepsy Hero.

Natalie Palau, Clinical Nurse Lead on 4 Pavilion/Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, was selected as the winner of the 2024 Epilepsy Hero Award – Nurses Category. Natalie's colleagues acknowledged her for for her collaborative efforts and dedication to patient families, as well as the Cook Children's community of nurses.

In 2024, Natalie collaborated with the SIM Lab to create the Seizure First Aid program in Neurosciences. This program allows parents and caregivers of patients with epilepsy to receive hands-on seizure first aid education, along with individualized instructions about how and when to give seizure rescue medications. Additionally, she was awarded a Blue Peaks Giving Circle Grant to fund the purchase of SIM seizure manikins. During the 2024 Society of Pediatric Nurses National Conference, Natalie presented her work with the Seizure First Aid Program. In 2025, the Seizure First Aid program will expand to accommodate more patients and their families from other areas at Cook Children's.

Natalie's dedication and collaborative spirit have significantly contributed to our patient community. Working alongside different disciplines, she played a key role in creating the Communication Board Tool for Spanish-speaking families, which two units successfully piloted and will soon be implemented across the medical center. She actively participates in the Neuro Family Advisory Council and supports the new Neuro C.A.R.E.S. Group, which allows families to form connections and a sense of community.

Beyond caring for patients and their families, Natalie actively supports her fellow nurses and strives to improve the quality of patient care. She facilitates the 4 Pavilion/Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (4P/EMU) Quality Assurance and Process Improvement (QAPI) meetings, chairs the Nurse Practice Council and participates in the Level 4 Professional Development Program (PDP). Natalie helped implement Quality Leadership Rounds and the Gemba, Recognition, Ideas, Topics and Teamwork (GRITT) Council this year, which show improvements in 4P/EMU Hospital Acquired Conditions (HAC) bundle elements, staff compliance and patient safety outcome metrics for the unit. Natalie is also an active Policy and Procedure Council member, where she has helped develop, revise and review at least a dozen medical center policies this year.

Natalie's unwavering commitment to professional development, policy improvement, as well as her dedication to our patient families and our Neurosciences program makes her an Epilepsy Hero!

*The photo above was taken at the Society of Pediatric Nurses National Conference

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Contact the Jane and John Justin Neurosciences Center at Cook Children's to refer a patient: 682-885-2500.