Tara Downey
Navarre
Summary
Dynamic RN with extensive NICU experience at Ascension Sacred Heart, excelling in leadership and clinical competence. Proven ability to enhance patient outcomes through effective communication and problem-solving. Skilled in managing high-acuity cases and mentoring staff, ensuring optimal care delivery and operational efficiency in critical settings.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
RN, NICU Charge
Ascension Sacred Heart
02.2018 - Current
- Streamline workflow to enhance departmental efficiency and improve patient outcomes.
- Act as the clinical leader for the unit, overseeing all nursing operations and ensuring the smooth function of the NICU.
- Manage patient flow, unit priorities, and workflow to support both families and staff.
- Serves as the primary contact for staff escalation of clinical or operational issues.
- Assigns patient care assignments to staff nurses based on acuity, experience, and workload.
- Ensures appropriate staffing levels and skill mixes are maintained throughout the shift.
- Coordinates with leadership if staffing shortages, absences, or increased patient acuity occur.
- Oversees patient safety and quality care delivery across the unit.
- Responds to changes in patient conditions and ensures timely escalation to providers.
- May assist with emergency situations or complex clinical decisions when needed.
- Functions as a clinical resource, mentoring and coaching staff with clinical questions or challenging situations. Provides guidance on unit protocols, best practices, and problem solving during the shift.
- Supports less experienced nurses and serves as a point of contact during procedures or emergent events.
- Communicates shift updates, patient needs, and issues with interprofessional team members, including neonatologist, respiratory therapists, and other departments.
- Participates in shift handoffs and report with incoming charge and nursing staff.
- Provides clear communication to families when appropriate and supports family-centered care.
- Addresses operational needs like resource availability, equipment checks, unit supplies, and bed assignments if applicable.
- May support quality improvement initiatives, shared governance activities, or performance metrics for the unit.
- Ensures documentation compliance and regulatory standards are upheld during the shift.
- Leads the bereavement committee for the unit, ensuring supplies are ordered, processes are followed, and ongoing family contact is in place.
Staff RN, NICU
Ascension Sacred Heart
11.2003 - Current
- Provide care for premature and critically ill neonates in a level III NICU.
- Perform ongoing assessment of vital signs, oxygenation, perfusion, and neurological status.
- Maintain thermoregulation using incubators, warmers, and skin-to-skin care.
- Accurately measure intake/output, daily weights, and growth parameters.
- Manage and monitor oxygen therapy through the use of CPAP, NIPPV, HFNC, as well as through the use of mechanical ventilation that includes IMV, HFOV, and HFJV.
- Perform suctioning, airway care, and monitor ABGs and oxygen saturation.
- Recognize and respond to apnea, bradycardia, and desaturation events.
- Safely prepare and administer weight-based medications, verifying compatibility with pediatric pharmacist.
- Manage IV lines, PICCs, UVCs, UACs, Broviacs, and peripheral IVs.
- Administer TPN, lipids, antibiotics, blood products, and vasoactive medications.
- Monitor for medication errors, infiltration, and extravasation.
- Administer enteral feeds via nasogastric, orogastric, transpyloric, and gastrostomy tubes.
- Support breastfeeding, gavage, and po feeding using proper feeding techniques.
- Monitor feeding tolerance, residuals, abdominal girth, and signs of NEC.
- Collaborate with lactation consultants and dietitians to ensure infant's optimal growth.
- Provide developmentally supportive care (minimal stimulation, positioning, cue-based care).
- Educate and support families in infant care and bonding, while encouraging kangaroo care and parental involvement.
- Provide emotional support during stressful or end-of-life situations.
- Monitor for signs of sepsis, follow isolation, and central-line bundles.
- Ensure patient safety through proper identification and equipment checks.
- Respond to neonatal emergencies (resuscitation, deterioration) in the unit and in labor & delivery.
- Participate in NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) events including emergency bedside surgery, intubation, chest-tube insertion, or severe apneic events requiring bag-mask ventilation.
- Recognize early signs of instability and escalate care promptly.
- Work closely with neonatologist, NNPs, RTs, pharmacists, and social workers.
- Participate in rounds, care planning, and handoffs.
- Advocate for infant and family needs.
- Accurate and timely electronic documentation.
- Monitor outcomes and participate in quality improvement initiatives, including debriefs following deaths and neonatal codes.
- Adhere to NICU policies, protocols, and evidence-based practices.
- Maintain required certifications (NRP, BLS, and Stable).
- Participate in continuing education and unit competencies, such as quarterly NICU skills labs.
- Strong assessment and critical-thinking skills with the ability to detect subtle changes in neonatal condition.
- Emotional resilience and compassion with a personal love for bereavement and palliative care.
- Excellent communication with families and the care team.
RN, Neonatal and Pediatric Transport Team
Ascension Sacred Heart
05.2023 - 11.2025
- Perform rapid assessment and ongoing monitoring of critically ill newborns and children during transport.
- Provide stabilization and critical care interventions including airway management, respiratory support, thermoregulation, vascular access, cardiac monitoring, and medication administration.
- Collaborate with transport physician/APP and respiratory therapist/paramedic to implement transport care plans.
- Provide clear communication and handoff reports to referring and receiving facilities.
- Operate and troubleshoot transport-specific equipment (transport incubators, ventilators, monitors, infusion pumps).
- Manage high-risk conditions such as respiratory distress, sepsis, prematurity, hypoglycemia, and seizures.
- Safely perform ground or air transports following EMTALA, state, and hospital regulations.
RN, ECMO
Ascension Sacred Heart
04.2023 - 12.2024
- Delivered high-quality patient care in critical settings.
- Operated and monitored the ECMO pump, oxygenator, tubing, and alarms.
- Adjusted blood flow, sweep gas, FiO₂, and pressures per protocol or physician orders.
- Detected and assisted with troubleshooting clots, air, hemolysis, oxygenator failure, or mechanical issues.
- Performed or assisted with circuit, pump, or oxygenator exchanges.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement patient treatment plans.
- Correlated ECMO parameters with patient hemodynamics, ABGs, and oxygen delivery.
- Recognized signs of inadequate support or recovery.
- Monitored for complications such as bleeding, thromboembolism, limb ischemia, and neurologic injury.
- Monitored ACT, aPTT, anti-Xa, platelet count, and fibrinogen.
- Adjusted anticoagulation therapy according to institutional protocols.
- Identified and responded to bleeding vs clotting risks.
- Prepared ECMO equipment and primed circuits.
- Assisted during cannulation and bedside procedures.
- Verified cannula position and securement.
Education
Master of Science - Neonatal Nursing
University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL12-2026
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Auburn University of Montgomery (AUM)
Montgomery, AL05-2000
Skills
- Leadership & decision-making: Able to prioritize tasks and make timely decisions that affect the whole unit
- Communication: Clear, effective communication with staff, physicians, and families
The role requires more than clinical expertise — it also calls for strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills:
- Clinical competence: Advanced NICU nursing experience and comfort managing high-acuity patients
- Problem solving: Able to quickly assess operational and clinical issues and guide appropriate action
Accomplishments
Great catches on medications and processes. Kudos received from families and staff involving patient care.
Certification
BLS, NRP, STABLE, PALS, and ACLS.
Timeline
RN, Neonatal and Pediatric Transport Team
Ascension Sacred Heart
05.2023 - 11.2025
RN, ECMO
Ascension Sacred Heart
04.2023 - 12.2024
RN, NICU Charge
Ascension Sacred Heart
02.2018 - Current
Staff RN, NICU
Ascension Sacred Heart
11.2003 - Current
Master of Science - Neonatal Nursing
University of South Alabama
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Auburn University of Montgomery (AUM)
Nurse Excellence Award 2024
A recognition of nursing excellence across Studer Family Children's Hospital.