Two Sumner Regional Medical Center (SRMC) clinical leaders are going beyond their normal job descriptions for Election Day 2020.

Shatika Taylor, FNP, MSN, MBA, and Ryan McFarland, RN, BSN, MBA, are volunteering to help patients at Sumner Regional exercise their right to vote.

Ryan reached out to the Sumner County Election Commission to ask how our staff could help Sumner County voters who were in the hospital on Election Day. The Election Commission worked with Ryan to get all the official paperwork; as well as learn to verify the photo ID of each voter and instruct them how to fill out their ballot and send it in as absentee.

Additionally, the Commission had Ryan select a second employee with a different party voting history to assist; so that each patient could have someone who aligned with their voting preferences to assist.

Ryan and Shatika were able to identify four Sumner County residents who were inpatients at SRMC who wanted voting assistance on Tuesday, November 3. Visiting each room together; they checked photo IDs, verified the paperwork provided by the Election Commission, and assisted the patients with privately and securely submitting their mail-in ballot.

Shatika and Ryan were both grateful to be able to help these patients vote today, but primarily, they wanted to send a message of unity.

“I may disagree with Ryan's political views, but I love him,” said Shatika. “So regardless of who wins, I know we’ll both be back tomorrow, shoulder to shoulder—taking care of our patients.”

“There are no Republicans, Democrats, Independents, or others when it comes to providing for our patients,” Ryan agreed. “This was just another example of how, no matter what is going on in the world, we can come together and do what's best for our patients.”