Herson is a compassionate and forward-thinking oncology nurse who has the rare ability to see how new technology can actually lead to more personalized—and safer—care. For instance, he took the initiative to transition from paper to electronic calculations for chemotherapy administration, a move that improved accuracy and patient safety, and also streamlined the medication process across the entire hospital system. And he was instrumental in creating a system that uses real-time data to optimize treatment schedules and dosing for chemotherapy patients, thus personalizing the care.
For Herson, it all comes back to patient outcomes: His practice blends creative technological innovation with hands-on, direct-care nursing fundamentals. His leadership has resulted in a 60% reduction in hospital-acquired pressure injuries in his unit. He is not afraid to ask questions and advocate, especially when patient safety is in play.
In one instance, a patient’s blood work indicated low potassium, but that wasn’t consistent with Herson’s assessment of the patient’s presentation. He advocated for a second test, which confirmed that the first had been incorrect. In this case, Herson’s attention to the interpersonal aspects of nursing caught a potential error before it could impact the patient. Along with his technological acumen, he meets people where they are as a deeply compassionate and skillful clinical nurse, and in his work as a Spanish-language interpreter and advocate for LGBTQIA+ and non-English speaking communities.