Many Cleveland Clinic caregivers are former patients, motivated by the compassionate care they received to become caregivers themselves. Others enter the field of medicine because of a desire to help people.  

LaTasha Moore, BSN, RN, CMSRN, checks boxes in both categories. LaTasha became a Cleveland Clinic nurse because, as she says, “Even as a child, I always enjoyed helping and caring for others.”   

LaTasha has been with Cleveland Clinic for 25 years. She started as a Patient Service Representative, scheduling appointments in Internal Medicine, then moved over to Colorectal Surgery as an Administrative Assistant.   

She became an RN in December 2018, after receiving her associate degree from Cuyahoga Community College and her bachelor’s degree from Ohio University. As a telemetry nurse in the Progressive Care Unit, she cares for patients who are recovering from surgery.   

LaTasha brings a special passion to her work, not only out of a desire to help people, but also because she has been a patient. At the time she became an RN, she was marking her second anniversary as a breast cancer survivor.  

Patients come first  

LaTasha’s experience as a Cleveland Clinic patient helped her decide where she wanted to work as a nurse. “I chose the post-op surgery floor where I was a patient during my recovery,” she says. “The nurses, nurse assistants, all the physicians treated me with so much kindness, patience and empathy.”  

One aspect of being a nurse that LaTasha takes to heart is patient advocacy. Empathy and empowerment are key, she says, and she knows what patients are going through when they are admitted to the hospital. “They know their bodies,” she says. “It’s important to take the time to listen.”  

She goes on to list those attributes she feels are important in her role. “Always show kindness and compassion. Explain things clearly and see if the patient understands. Make eye contact and do not rush. Remember why you went into nursing: to care for others and to treat them with dignity and respect.”  

Volunteering for medical missions  

LaTasha’s desire to care for others extends beyond Cleveland Clinic. She has been a volunteer on several medical missions in communities that have limited access to healthcare and hospitals. “I volunteer for these missions because I have the heart to serve,” she says. “Being a breast cancer survivor taught me to stop putting things off and live your life to the fullest while you still can.”  

Since May 2024, she has been on medical missions to Belize and to Johannesburg, South Africa twice. In Johannesburg, she worked with the Nurses with Purpose organization. “We checked vitals, did blood glucose checks, wound cleaning and dressing, and gave over-the-counter medications. I also talked to the women about self-breast exams.”  

LaTasha says she plans to continue these medical missions. “Seeing how grateful and appreciative they are, it just tugs on your heart. My faith and love to serve will allow me to continue to go as long as I am able.”   

Teamwork and compassion  

As a Cleveland Clinic nurse, LaTasha appreciates the respectful environment in which she works. “We all help each other,” she says. “The patients may be assigned to specific nurses and nurse assistants, but we all step in and support each other. And while they are rounding, the providers and surgeons make sure that the nurse is at the bedside while doing the plan of care.”  

LaTasha is also a fan of the support she receives from the organization to help her advance her career. “Cleveland Clinic is a place where you can grow; they actually encourage it,” she says. For instance, “Cleveland Clinic helped me in my career journey by providing tuition reimbursement.” 

LaTasha also cites Cleveland Clinic’s Nursing Career Ladder, which rewards caregivers who demonstrate a desire to heighten their clinical skills, education, competencies and professional expertise. It revolves around the five stages of clinical competence: novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient and expert. “It helps you choose paths you may want to take in the future,” LaTasha notes.   

LaTasha wants to pay her good fortune forward for other cancer patients. “I see my career path at Cleveland Clinic as a Nurse Practitioner in the Oncology department so that I can be hands-on and up to date with current treatment,” she says. “I have a passion as a breast cancer survivor to continue to support and encourage others who are going through this.”