improving cleft care

Tania has been named the 2020 HESTA Australian Nursing & Midwifery Awards Nurse of the Year. She works in the Plastic Surgery Unit at Monash Health in Clayton, VIC.

Tania Green was recognised for her work to improve care for patients with cleft and craniofacial conditions and their families. Tania looks after more than 500 patients as the clinical nurse coordinator for Monash Health’s Cleft and Craniofacial Unit and has been instrumental in improving awareness of the treatment and care required for cleft-affected babies. She has developed protocols for Monash Health that have increased the education and confidence of staff involved in the care of these patients, and works with the special care nursery and neonatal staff to ensure these babies’ medical needs are met.

Tania is a passionate advocate for her patients and their families. She was instrumental in setting up antenatal consultations for parents expecting a baby with a cleft lip and/or palate, reducing their anxiety, and has worked to reduce the number of hospital visits families needed, saving them time and easing financial pressures for those who need to travel from afar. She has also fostered strong, collaborative relationships with other health organisations to improve the delivery of care, particularly through her volunteer work with CleftPALS, a not-for-profit organisation that provides support for cleft-affected people and their families.

Tania is incredibly committed to her work and her patients. She frequently goes above and beyond to ensure families get the care and support they need, from providing comfort to anxious parents as they wait for their child to come out of theatre, to travelling across the state in her own time to educate other healthcare professionals and ensure they are up-to-date on best-practice care. Her enthusiasm and warm, empathetic nature has been praised and welcomed by patients, families and colleagues alike.