Nurse Practitioners Lead with Empathy and Advocacy

Nurse practitioners play a vital role at Shriners Children’s. As advanced practice providers, nurse practitioners combine clinical expertise, compassionate patient engagement and collaborative leadership to improve health outcomes and the overall care experience. In this highly specialized setting – where patients often face complex diagnoses, surgical interventions or long-term conditions— nurse practitioners are essential in delivering high-quality, accessible and coordinated care.

Shriners Children’s is guided by a powerful mission: to provide the highest quality specialty care to children regardless of their families’ ability to pay or insurance status. Nurse practitioners are integral to bringing this mission to life each day, combining knowledgeable care with empathy and advocacy.

As Allison Palisch, nurse practitioner, explained, “I am a big believer in healthcare as a human right and in the fact that everyone deserves access to appropriate healthcare. Shriners Children's St. Louis is unique in the fact that we are able to provide top-notch orthopedic care to patients in need no matter what. Insurance, cost, etc. are not barriers to being treated at Shriners Children’s, which can be rare in healthcare.”

With high demand for services, it is imperative that care be delivered efficiently and responsively. Nurse practitioners expand access by conducting initial and ongoing patient evaluations, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, managing non-surgical interventions, and assisting with surgical planning and post-operative follow-up. The level of specialized knowledge required in pediatric orthopedic care is significant, and nurse practitioners at Shriners Children's St. Louis have developed a deep expertise in managing both acute and chronic conditions. This detailed knowledge is matched by a strong commitment to compassionate care.

“We are all truly passionate about working with kids and supporting families every step of the way. We prioritize taking the time to listen, answer questions and address all orthopedic concerns, so families feel confident, informed and cared for throughout their child’s treatment journey," said nurse practitioner Melissa Harkins.

Collaboration, education and advocacy are central to the nurse practitioner role at Shriners Children’s St. Louis. Having nurse practitioners as part of our provider teams allows more comprehensive interdisciplinary care between the entire team as they work closely with the orthopedic surgeons and, in many cases, they work with the rehabilitation team, including physical and occupational therapists.

Nurse practitioner Emily Werner reflected this team-based approach, “I want families to feel confident and comfortable knowing your child is in good hands. The nurse practitioners specially train with our orthopedic surgeons and work together with them as a team. So, your child benefits from the collaboration between us and them. We take the time to listen to your concerns, answer questions and make sure you understand what is going on.”

The nurse practitioners serve as consistent points of contact, guiding families through diagnoses, treatment plans and recovery expectations. They help families feel confident and informed. They also connect patients with resources and services that support long-term success – offering true patient and family-centered care.