2024 Award Winner Spotlight: Patient Advocacy Award

The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) is proud to announce the 2024 Patient Advocacy Award recipient, Yvette Trigueros, BSN RN CRRN CWON. Recognized for her transformative contributions to patient care and rehabilitation nursing, Yvette has demonstrated exceptional leadership in improving outcomes and advancing pressure injury prevention strategies. This award, presented at ARN's 50th Rehabilitation Nursing Conference, celebrates her dedication to innovation, advocacy, and the holistic principles of rehabilitation nursing. Congratulations, Yvette! 

Celebrating Yvette Trigueros: 2024 ARN Patient Advocacy Award Winner​

Yvette Trigueros has dedicated the past 17 years of her nursing career to improving patient outcomes and advancing the field of rehabilitation nursing. Her diverse experience spans roles as a bedside staff nurse in acute spinal cord injury and rehabilitation settings, a field nurse researcher in pressure injury prevention, a home health nurse, a clinical consultant, and a wound ostomy continence nurse in outpatient care. Since 2012, Yvette has specialized as a wound nurse, excelling in both rehabilitation and medical-surgical settings.

Yvette has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence in patient advocacy and education. She developed and led the wound nurse program and interdisciplinary wound education at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, where her creativity and leadership have had a transformative impact. Projects like the "Rancho Guardians of the Skin" event at the annual Skills Fair and her engaging patient education efforts have set new standards in care.

Leadership That Drives Remarkable Outcomes

Her innovative approaches to pressure injury prevention have led to remarkable outcomes. She established unit skin champions and an interprofessional pressure injury prevention (IPIP) team. Under her guidance, a new heel protector product was introduced, resulting in zero heel protector-related hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) since 2017. In 2023, Yvette's work contributed to a 36% reduction in total HAPIs, a 30% decrease in medical device-related pressure injuries, and an average wound healing improvement of over 40%. These efforts were supported by a training compliance rate exceeding 75%.

Excellence Backed by Academic and Clinical Achievements

Yvette's professional accomplishments are supported by her academic and clinical achievements. She earned her CRRN in 2013, her bachelor's degree from California State University, Fullerton, in 2014, and her certification in wound and ostomy care (CWON) in 2015 after completing the Wound Ostomy Continence program at WebWOC Metropolitan University. Her expertise has earned her national recognition as a group panelist member for the 2025 revision of the International Pressure Ulcer/Injury Clinical Guidelines by the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel. Yvette will be contributing her expertise for pressure injury prevention bundles and for dark skin tone specialty population within the guidelines.

In 2014, Yvette was honored as Nurse of the Year by the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services at Rancho Los Amigos. She is also a respected leader within the Southern California Chapter of ARN, where she inspires others with her dedication and vision.

A Personal Journey Rooted in Compassion​ 

Beyond her professional achievements, Yvette is a devoted wife, mother of seven children (ranging from 25 years to 23 months), a "bonus mom" to two honorary children, and just welcomed her first grandchild this past December. Yvette contributes much of her success to her supportive mother, Selia, and father, Rodrigo, who spent endless days and nights babysitting the kids while providing Yvette the opportunity to become a nurse and to develop a holistic wound program to benefit many patients. Yvette cherishes each moment with her parents, kids, grandson, and supportive husband Kevin. She finds joy in spending time with her family, gardening, walking, bible studies, and continuous learning.

Yvette Trigueros embodies the spirit of patient advocacy, innovation, and compassionate care, making her a truly deserving recipient of the 2024 ARN Patient Advocacy Award. Congratulations, Yvette!

A Q+A With Yvette 

What does this honor mean to you?  

Without patients, we wouldn't need nurses. Caring for patients during their lowest moments or encouraging them to achieve their fullest function and quality of life is the very essence of nursing, particularly rehabilitation nursing. I have integrated holistic rehabilitation principles into each role I've held, from bedside clinician to educator, researcher, policymaker, and wound and ostomy nurse. In all these roles, the patient remains the one I serve.

Many of us have had friends and family members become patients, and eventually, we too may become patients. I have always believed it is our duty to contribute to the safety and quality of life of our patients so that one day we may also benefit. Having had a son spend 5 months in the hospital and eventually succumbing to his illness, I have seen how important and meaningful it is to advocate for patients and their families firsthand. Receiving the Patient Advocacy Award is a humbling experience that brings tears of joy and encourages me to persevere through the many challenges we face as a nurse.

The memories of the many patients I have cared for and learned from along my nursing journey resonate with me and guide me as I seek to implement evidence into practice, always striving to make it practical for the patients. My patients, my grandmas, my cousin, and my son – they have all inspired me. Thank you for this honor. This award truly honors them.

What does ARN provide you as a member?  

ARN has provided me with knowledgeable mentors who have helped me grow in my profession. The organization has offered resources and networking opportunities at both the local and national levels, helping me understand how the holistic rehabilitation nursing concept can be utilized across the continuum of nursing care.

What has been your favorite part of being an ARN member over the years?​ 

My favorite part of being an ARN member has been the in-person educational and affordable opportunities I have attended. Advancing my learning while networking and creating friendships with others who share the same passion for improving patient care is priceless. The social events have also been so much fun!