03/27/2026
Patient advocacy isn’t just something we talk about – it’s something our nurses live out every day. Lera, BSN, RN working in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), is a powerful example of what that looks like in action.
Lera has been a nurse for seven years and has spent six of those years at UT Medical. A former active-duty Air Force service member and a 2018 BSN graduate from the University of Tennessee College of Nursing, she was drawn to nursing because she wanted to be “part of something bigger than me and to help people.” Today, she brings that sense of purpose to her work in the PACU, where quick thinking and close attention to detail are critical.
Recently, Lera cared for a patient who arrived in the PACU following what was expected to be a routine procedure. While some post-surgical discomfort is common, Lera noticed troubling signs. “Not only did he have changes in his EKG, but he was having crushing chest pains from his jaw to his arm,” she recalled. Although the patient tried to downplay his symptoms, Lera trusted her instincts. “I had a gut feeling that there was really something more serious going on.”
While the patient was awaiting transfer from the Cath Lab, Lera sensed something was off. “My nursing ‘spidey sense’ made me think we shouldn’t do that,” she said. “I felt I needed to keep a closer eye on him.” Lera consulted with the team, raised her concerns and was heard. Their decision to keep him there proved lifesaving – the patient was found to have critical blockages in his left and right coronary arteries and was rushed into emergency open-heart surgery.
Days later, Lera came in early to check on him in the Cardiac ICU. He remembered her, and they were able to talk for a little while.
As Lexie, MSN, RN and PACU Nurse Manager, shared about Lera, “A nurse who listened, advocated, and trusted her gut quite literally saved a patient’s life.” At UT Medical, that kind of advocacy is part of the culture. As a Magnet-designated organization, nurses are empowered to speak up, raise concerns and work collaboratively with physicians and care teams to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.
Lera puts it simply: “Post-anesthesia, nurses really are the patient’s voice then.” In this case, that voice made all the difference. Because Lera trusted her instincts and spoke up, she and the expert team at the Heart Lung Vascular Institute helped give a patient a second chance at life.
Stories like this reflect the compassionate, collaborative culture that defines care at UT Medical. We are proud to be named one of America’s Best Employers for Company Culture 2025 by Forbes and proud to care for you.
https://www.utmedical.org/blog-post/when-nurses-instinct-saves-life
