She also co‑authored a children’s book, “Nurse Tara’s Adventure: A Day in the Hospital,” aimed at demystifying hospital experiences for young readers. The book is used in school health curricula across the Midwest.

After three years, Tara pursued a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in Critical Care at the University of Chicago’s School of Nursing. While completing her graduate studies, she returned to the ED as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). Her dissertation, titled “The Impact of Nurse‑Led Communication Protocols on Patient Outcomes in High‑Acuity Settings,” was later published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing and has been cited over 150 times.